Title : Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation: A novel therapy connecting central and peripheral system
Abstract:
Currently, most clinical practice and scientific research revolves around a single disease or system, and the single disease-oriented diagnostic and therapeutic paradigm needs to be broken. This review describes how transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a novel non-invasive neuromodulation approach, connects the central and peripheral systems of the body. Through stimulation of widely distributed vagus nerve from the head to the abdominal cavity, this therapy can improve and treat central system disorders, peripheral system disorders, and central-peripheral comorbidities caused by autonomic dysfunction. In the past, public research on taVNS has focused on how to treat central system disorders by modulating this brain nerve. As the vagus nerve innervates the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, spleen and other peripheral organs, taVNS could have an overall modulatory effect on the region of the body where the vagus nerve is widespread. Based on the above physiological basis, we summarize the existing evidence of its ability to regulate cardiac function, adiposity, glucose, gastrointestinal function, immune function, etc., to treat peripheral system diseases, and its treatment of complex diseases with central and peripheral comorbidities. This review will show the successful examples and research progress of taVNS using peripheral neuromodulation mechanisms from more perspectives, demonstrating its expanded scope and value to provide new ideas and approaches for holistic therapy from both central and peripheral perspectives.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a novel neuromodulation therapy which has shown a similar function to invasive VNS, with the advantages of non-invasive, easy operation, excellent therapeutic efficacy and minimal side effects.
- This review focuses on the application of taVNS in treating disorders of peripheral organs and the communication between central and peripheral regulations.
- The application of taVNS in the field of central peripheral comorbidities will be worth exploring in depth.
