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Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Induced Parasympathetic Activation modulates experimental pain as assessed with the nociceptive withdrawal reflex
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  • Hirotake Yokota,
  • Mutsuaki Edama,
  • Yurika Kawanabe,
  • Ryo Hirabayashi,
  • Chie Sekine,
  • Hiroshi Akuzawa,
  • Tomonobu Ishigaki,
  • Naofumi Otsuru,
  • Kei Saito,
  • Sho Kojima,
  • Shota Miyaguchi,
  • Hideaki Onishi
Hirotake Yokota
Niigata University of Health and Welfare

Corresponding Author:yokota@nuhw.ac.jp

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Mutsuaki Edama
Niigata University of Health and Welfare
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Yurika Kawanabe
Niigata University of Health and Welfare
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Ryo Hirabayashi
Niigata University of Health and Welfare
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Chie Sekine
Niigata University of Health and Welfare
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Hiroshi Akuzawa
Niigata University of Health and Welfare
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Tomonobu Ishigaki
Niigata University of Health and Welfare
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Naofumi Otsuru
Niigata University of Health and Welfare
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Kei Saito
Niigata University of Health and Welfare
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Sho Kojima
Niigata University of Health and Welfare
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Shota Miyaguchi
Niigata Iryo Fukushi Daigaku
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Hideaki Onishi
Niigata University of Health and Welfare
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) to the left cymba concha on the pain perception using nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR), which is known to be associated with chronic pain, and to investigate whether tVNS-induced suppression of the NWR and parasympathetic activation is correlated. We applied either 3.0 mA, 100 Hz tVNS for 120 s in the left cymba concha (tVNS condition) or the left earlobe (Sham condition) for twenty healthy adults. NWR threshold was measured before (Baseline), immediately after (Post 0), 10 min (Post 10) and 30 min after (Post 30) stimulation. The NWR threshold was obtained from biceps femoris muscle by applying electrical stimulation to the sural nerve. During tVNS, electrocardiograph was recorded, and changes in autonomic nervous activity were analyzed. We found that the NWR thresholds at Post 10 and Post 30 increased compared to baseline in the tVNS group (10 min after: p = 0.048 30 min after: p = 0.037). In addition, increased parasympathetic activity by tVNS correlated with a greater increase in NWR threshold at Post 10 and Post 30 (Post 10: p = 0.01; Post 30: p = 0.005). The present results demonstrate the pain-suppressing effect of tVNS as assessed with NWR threshold and suggest that the degree of parasympathetic activation during tVNS may predict the effect of tVNS after its application.
12 May 2023Submitted to European Journal of Neuroscience
13 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
13 May 2023Assigned to Editor
17 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
27 Jan 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
02 Feb 20243rd Revision Received
02 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Feb 2024Submission Checks Completed
02 Feb 2024Assigned to Editor
05 Feb 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
19 Feb 2024Editorial Decision: Accept