Marius Keute1, Philipp Ruhnau1, Hans-Jochen Heinze2, Tino Zaehle3. 1. Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. 2. Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestr. 6, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany. 3. Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address: tino.zaehle@ovgu.de.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) has been hypothesized to modulate γ-aminobutyric (GABA) transmission in the human brain. GABA in the motor cortex is highly correlated to measures of automatic motor inhibition that can be obtained in simple response priming paradigms. To test the effects of tVNS on GABA transmission, we measured tVNS-induced alterations in behavioral and electrophysiology during automatic motor inhibition. METHODS: Participants were 16 young, healthy adults (8 female). We combined a subliminal response priming paradigm with tVNS and EEG measurement. In this paradigm, automatic motor inhibition leads to a reversal of the priming effect, a phenomenon referred to as the negative compatibility effect (NCE). We compute the NCE separated by response hands, hypothesizing a modulation of the left-hand NCE. Using EEG we measured readiness potentials, an established electrophysiological index of cortical motor preparation. RESULTS: As hypothesized, for the ipsilateral hand/contralateral hemisphere, compared to sham stimulation, tVNS increased the NCE and modulated the electrophysiological readiness potentials. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that tVNS is selectively affecting the GABAergic system in the motor system contralateral to the stimulated ear as reflected in a behavioral and electrophysiological modulation. SIGNIFICANCE: We provide first combined behavioral and electrophysiological evidence for direct GABAergic neuromodulation through tVNS.
OBJECTIVE: Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) has been hypothesized to modulate γ-aminobutyric (GABA) transmission in the human brain. GABA in the motor cortex is highly correlated to measures of automatic motor inhibition that can be obtained in simple response priming paradigms. To test the effects of tVNS on GABA transmission, we measured tVNS-induced alterations in behavioral and electrophysiology during automatic motor inhibition. METHODS:Participants were 16 young, healthy adults (8 female). We combined a subliminal response priming paradigm with tVNS and EEG measurement. In this paradigm, automatic motor inhibition leads to a reversal of the priming effect, a phenomenon referred to as the negative compatibility effect (NCE). We compute the NCE separated by response hands, hypothesizing a modulation of the left-hand NCE. Using EEG we measured readiness potentials, an established electrophysiological index of cortical motor preparation. RESULTS: As hypothesized, for the ipsilateral hand/contralateral hemisphere, compared to sham stimulation, tVNS increased the NCE and modulated the electrophysiological readiness potentials. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that tVNS is selectively affecting the GABAergic system in the motor system contralateral to the stimulated ear as reflected in a behavioral and electrophysiological modulation. SIGNIFICANCE: We provide first combined behavioral and electrophysiological evidence for direct GABAergic neuromodulation through tVNS.
Authors: Adam D Farmer; Adam Strzelczyk; Alessandra Finisguerra; Alexander V Gourine; Alireza Gharabaghi; Alkomiet Hasan; Andreas M Burger; Andrés M Jaramillo; Ann Mertens; Arshad Majid; Bart Verkuil; Bashar W Badran; Carlos Ventura-Bort; Charly Gaul; Christian Beste; Christopher M Warren; Daniel S Quintana; Dorothea Hämmerer; Elena Freri; Eleni Frangos; Eleonora Tobaldini; Eugenijus Kaniusas; Felix Rosenow; Fioravante Capone; Fivos Panetsos; Gareth L Ackland; Gaurav Kaithwas; Georgia H O'Leary; Hannah Genheimer; Heidi I L Jacobs; Ilse Van Diest; Jean Schoenen; Jessica Redgrave; Jiliang Fang; Jim Deuchars; Jozsef C Széles; Julian F Thayer; Kaushik More; Kristl Vonck; Laura Steenbergen; Lauro C Vianna; Lisa M McTeague; Mareike Ludwig; Maria G Veldhuizen; Marijke De Couck; Marina Casazza; Marius Keute; Marom Bikson; Marta Andreatta; Martina D'Agostini; Mathias Weymar; Matthew Betts; Matthias Prigge; Michael Kaess; Michael Roden; Michelle Thai; Nathaniel M Schuster; Nicola Montano; Niels Hansen; Nils B Kroemer; Peijing Rong; Rico Fischer; Robert H Howland; Roberta Sclocco; Roberta Sellaro; Ronald G Garcia; Sebastian Bauer; Sofiya Gancheva; Stavros Stavrakis; Stefan Kampusch; Susan A Deuchars; Sven Wehner; Sylvain Laborde; Taras Usichenko; Thomas Polak; Tino Zaehle; Uirassu Borges; Vanessa Teckentrup; Vera K Jandackova; Vitaly Napadow; Julian Koenig Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2021-03-23 Impact factor: 3.169
Authors: Jonathan Y Y Yap; Charlotte Keatch; Elisabeth Lambert; Will Woods; Paul R Stoddart; Tatiana Kameneva Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2020-04-28 Impact factor: 4.677