Vagus Nerve Stimulation Effects on Autonomic Nervous System Activity

Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Basic Autonomic Nervous System Activity

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus nerve stimulation may be successful in cardiac modulation because of the cardiac connections of the vagal nerve. Therefore, in order to observe the cardiac effects, it was analysed the changes in pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure after transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation application.

Participants were divided into four groups (Figure 1) according to PNS and SNS indexes as Group 1 (PNS index <-2, SNS index >+2), Group 2 (PNS index <-2, SNS index <+2), Group 3 (PNS index >-2, SNS index >+2), Group 4 (PNS index >-2, SNS index <+2). Participants were assessed with blood pressure, pulse rate and HRV before and after taVNS stimulation. Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) index and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) index values were assumed to be between -2 and +2 (95%) in the normal population according to Kubios software, and the grouping method was based on this situation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 40 years old.
• No previous vagus nerve stimulation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Using of any drug, alcohol or smoking.
• Pregnancy.
• Known history of acute or chronic illness.
• Being in the post or peri-menopausal stage.