Short-term transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation increases pupil size but does not affect EEG alpha power: a replication

Author:

Lloyd BethORCID,Wurm FranzORCID,de Kleijn RoyORCID,Nieuwenhuis SanderORCID

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a promising brain stimulation method for the treatment of pharmaco-resistant epilepsy and depression. Its clinical efficacy is thought to depend on taVNS-induced activation of the locus coeruleus. However, unlike for invasive VNS, there is little evidence for an effect of taVNS on noradrenergic activity.ObjectiveWe attempted to replicate recently published findings by Sharon et al. (2021), showing that short bursts of taVNS transiently increased pupil size and decreased EEG alpha power, two correlates of central noradrenergic activity.MethodsFollowing the original study, we used a single-blind, sham-controlled, randomized cross-over design. We applied short-term (3.4 s) taVNS in healthy human volunteers (n=29), while collecting resting-state pupil-size and EEG data. To analyze the data, we used scripts provided by Sharon and colleagues.ResultsConsistent with Sharon et al. (2021), pupil dilation was significantly larger during taVNS than during sham stimulation (p= .009; Bayes factor supporting the difference = 7.45). However, we failed to replicate the effect of taVNS on EEG alpha power (p= .37); the data were four times more likely under the null hypothesis (BF10= 0.28).ConclusionOur findings support the effectiveness of short-term taVNS in inducing transient pupil dilation, a correlate of phasic noradrenergic activity. However, we failed to replicate the recent finding by Sharon et al. (2021) that taVNS attenuates EEG alpha activity. Overall, this study highlights the need for continued research on the neural mechanisms underlying taVNS efficacy and its potential as a treatment option for pharmaco-resistant conditions. It also highlights the need for direct replications of influential taVNS studies.

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3