Short trains of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) have parameter-specific effects on heart rate.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Optimal parameters of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) are still undetermined. Given the vagus nerve's role in regulating heart rate (HR), it is important to determine safety and HR effects of various taVNS parameters.

Objective

We conducted two sequential trials to systematically test the effects of various taVNS parameters on HR.

Methods

15 healthy individuals participated in the initial two-visit, crossover exploratory trial, receiving either tragus (active) or earlobe (control) stimulation each visit. Nine stimulation blocks of varying parameters (pulse width: 100 μs, 200 μs, 500 μs; frequency: 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 25 Hz) were administered each visit. HR was recorded and analyzed for stimulation-induced changes. Using similar methods and

SUBMITTER: Badran BW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6536129 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul - Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature