Can transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation mitigate vigilance
loss? Examining the effects of stimulation at individualized vs.
constant current intensity
Abstract
According to the arousal model of vigilance, the locus
coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system modulates sustained attention
over long periods by regulating physiological arousal. Recent research
has proposed that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
(taVNS) modulates indirect physiological markers of LC-NE activity,
although its effects on vigilance have not yet been examined. Aiming to
develop a safe and non-invasive procedure to prevent vigilance failures
in prolonged tasks, the present study examined the possibility to
mitigate vigilance loss by stimulating the LC-NE system via taVNS.
Following a pre-registered protocol (https://osf.io/tu2xy/), 50
participants completed three repeated-sessions in a randomized order in
which either active taVNS at individualized intensity set by
participant, active taVNS set at 0.5 mA for all participants, or sham
taVNS, was delivered while performing an attentional and vigilance task
(i.e., ANTI-Vea). Changes in salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol
concentrations were measured as markers of LC-NE activity. Self-reports
of feelings associated with stimulation and guessing rate of active/sham
conditions supported the efficacy of the single-blind procedure.
Contrary to our predictions, the observed vigilance decrement was not
modulated by active taVNS. Pairwise comparisons showed a mitigation by
active taVNS on cortisol reduction across time. Interestingly,
Spearman’s correlational analyses showed some inter-individual effects
of taVNS on indirect markers of LC-NE, evidenced by positive
associations between changes in salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol in
active but not sham taVNS. We highlight the relevance of replicating and
extending the present outcomes, investigating further parameters of
stimulation and its effects on other indirect markers of LC-NE activity.