Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 10, 2025
04:59
Author Spotlight: Exploring the Effects of Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Published on: January 19, 2024
3.0K
Brain-Heart Interaction During Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Kathrin Machetanz1, Levan Berelidze1, Robert Guggenberger1
1Institute for Neuromodulation and Neurotechnology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|April 1, 2021
Summary
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) alters brain activity and heart rate variability (HRV). Specific cortical oscillations correlate with HRV changes, offering insights into neuro-cardiac interactions for targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) influences autonomic nervous system activity, impacting heart function and heart rate variability (HRV).
- The precise cortical mechanisms underlying taVNS-induced HRV modulation remain incompletely understood.
- Understanding these neuro-cardiac interactions is crucial for optimizing taVNS for therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between taVNS-induced increases in HRV and corresponding cortical activation patterns.
- To explore how different auricular stimulation sites (cymba conchae, inner tragus) and control sites affect cortical activity and HRV.
- To identify specific electroencephalography (EEG) oscillatory patterns associated with parasympathetic and sympathetic modulation.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous 64-channel electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG) recordings in 13 healthy subjects during taVNS.
- Intermittent taVNS stimulation bursts (25 Hz) at 1 Hz periodicity applied to cymba conchae/inner tragus and crus helicis/outer tragus.
- Estimation of HRV using time-domain measures: SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, and rrHRV.
Main Results:
- taVNS induced frequency-specific cortical oscillations proportional to HRV elevation across all stimulation targets.
- Frontal theta-band power increases correlated with HRV elevation across all parameters and sites.
- Distinct delta-band and higher frequency (alpha, beta, gamma) oscillatory patterns were observed, differing between stimulation sites and HRV measures, indicating site-specific neuro-cardiac modulation.
Conclusions:
- Neuro-cardiac interactions are modulated by taVNS at different auricular locations, reflected in cortical oscillatory activity.
- Specific HRV measures (RMSSD, pNN50, rrHRV for parasympathetic; SDNN for sympathetic) correlate with distinct cortical patterns.
- Cortical oscillation analysis can guide the selection of optimal taVNS locations and parameters for research and clinical use.
Keywords:
cortical oscillationselectroceuticalelectroencephalographyheart rate variabilitynon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS)transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS)More Related Videos
06:31Laboratory Administration of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation taVNS: Technique, Targeting, and Considerations
Published on: January 7, 2019
40.5K
04:04Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Electroencephalographic Assessment in Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: July 11, 2025
727
Related Concept Videos
01:19Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm
8.0K
The normal cardiac rhythm is a synchronized electrical activity that facilitates the regular and coordinated contraction of the heart muscle. This process is essential for efficient blood circulation throughout the body. The fundamental elements involved in establishing and maintaining this rhythm include the unique electrical properties of cardiac muscle cells, the sinoatrial (SA) node's pacemaker function, the specialized conducting system, and the ionic mechanisms underlying each phase...
8.0K
01:19Conduction System of the Heart
11.4K
Autorhythmicity is a term that refers to the heart's inherent ability to generate electrical signals and instigate muscle contractions. This self-regulating conduction system within the heart consists of two key components: the pacemaker cells and specialized conducting cells.
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...
11.4K
01:20Motor Unit Stimulation
3.0K
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
3.0K
01:30Cardiac Action Potential
4.2K
Cardiac action potentials are essential for proper heart function, enabling the rhythmic contractions needed for adequate blood circulation. Nodal cells and Purkinje fibers, specialized for electrical conduction, generate these action potentials.
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials
4.2K