Tag: tVNS
Circadian stage-dependent and stimulation duration effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on heart rate variability
In this study there were 3 findings. 1. HRV showed significant improvement in vagal activity in the morning. In the evening there were no similar result. 2. HRV parasympathetic markers improved more in patients who had lower vagal activity to begin with. (This has been a consistent finding across studies) 3. The most pronounced changes…
Read MoreTranscutaneous vagal nerve stimulation may elicit anti- and pro-nociceptive effects under experimentally-induced pain – a crossover placebo-controlled investigation.
I met Usichenko in Barcelona at a conference there. I was giving a talk and he was in the audience. I wish I had been able to spend a bit more time with him. He seems interested in the same things I am. In my next post, I will link to a more recent study….
Read MoreEffects of Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Fatigue and Immune Response in Patients With Primary Sjogren’s Symdrome
Photo is a representation of what the device looks like. (No video, just photo.) This article does not include HRV as a biomarker, but I’m interested in immune function and acupuncture/TAVNS, so though I’d link to this. I also try to keep track of proprietary devices for TVNS, (transcutaneous vagal nerve stimultioan). Neuromodulation. 2019 Jul;22(5):580-585….
Read MoreFMRI Biomarker for TAVNS for Depression
If you substituted HRV for fMRI in this abstract, you would get the idea of what I’m trying to find using HRV. I’m collecting data to see if one can identify which patients/treatments are most like to correlate with clinical success. HRV is noninvasive and basically free, so it would be a real breakthrough. We’ll…
Read MoreTAVNS for Depression
The following article is a literature review of the use of TAVNS (transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation) for depression. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30593183 Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Dec;97(52) (click on title for full text article Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in treating major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Wu C1, Liu P1, Fu H1, Chen W1, Cui…
Read MorePTSD Stress Reduction Over Time: Daily TAVNS and HRV Ke.Co. edition
This data is quite encouraging. This case is a 65+ year old male with PTSD with resulting defensive ideation, and fear. As described in the last blog post. ” This produces behaviors consistent with fight, flight, or immobilization that fluctuate depending on internal state and interactions with perceived threat (17–19). Variations in these defensive response…
Read MoreNon-invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation Effects on Hyperarousal and Autonomic State in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and History of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Preliminary Evidence.
This study looks at TAVNS, transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation, and its effect on startle and autonomic challenge with tilt test. In this single visit study, the group “We hypothesized that vagal tone would increase and that emotionally modulated sympathetic nervous system activity would attenuate in response to tVNS.” Their result “The stimulation was well…
Read MoreEarly cortical biomarkers of longitudinal transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation treatment success in depression
In this study, the researchers used the technique I’m experimenting with, transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation, or TaVNS, in patients with depression to correlate with their fMRI results. The procedure was similar to what I’ve been using in the clinic. The patients apply the electrode via a clip to the Left ear in the cymba…
Read MoreIncreased Sympathetic Activity in Headache Patients
This article compares autonomic activity in headache patients. They make no distinction between headache and migraine. Though I’d expected as much, they found lower parasympathetic activity and higher sympathetic activity in headache patients. I do have one patient who has had remarkable results with acupuncture, but his stress levels remain quite high. Other than his case,…
Read MoreAlternating Auricular Vagal Stimulation, HRV Data: De. Bo edition
I haven’t been sharing much data lately, just due to other projects and travel. Here is some data from a patient who values electrical ear stimlulation that provides increased vagal activity, ie increased “rest and digest” and has a unit at home to use. Though she’s not gotten around to use it much recently, we…
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