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Vagus Nerve Stimulation Delivered During Motor Rehabilitation Improves Recovery in a Rat Model of Stroke
Neural plasticity is widely believed to support functional recovery following brain damage. Vagus nerve stimulation paired with different forelimb movements causes long-lasting map plasticity in rat primary motor cortex that is specific to the paired movement. We tested the hypothesis that repeatedly pairing vagus nerve stimulation with upper forelimb movements would improve recovery of motor function in a rat model of stroke. Rats were separated into 3 groups: vagus nerve stimulation during rehabilitation (rehab), vagus nerve stimulation after rehab, and rehab alone. Animals underwent 4 training stages: shaping (motor ski...
Source: Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair - August 13, 2014 Category: Neurology Authors: Khodaparast, N., Hays, S. A., Sloan, A. M., Fayyaz, T., Hulsey, D. R., Rennaker, R. L., Kilgard, M. P. Tags: Basic Research Articles Source Type: research

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation-Paired Rehabilitation for Oromotor Feeding Problems in Newborns: An Open-Label Pilot Study
Neonates born premature or who suffer brain injury at birth often have oral feeding dysfunction and do not meet oral intake requirements needed for discharge. Low oral intake volumes result in extended stays in the hospital (>2 months) and can lead to surgical implant and explant of a gastrostomy tube (G-tube). Prior work suggests pairing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with motor activity accelerates functional improvements after stroke, and transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) has emerged as promising noninvasive form of VNS. Pairing taVNS with bottle-feeding rehabilitation may improve oromotor coordination and lead to ...
Source: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience - March 17, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) decreases heart rate acutely in neonatal rats
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is an exciting non-invasive extension of traditional invasive cervical VNS. However, it is still unclear what vagus fibers taVNS engages and whether taVNS has measurable effects in reducing heart rate (HR) to assess parasympathetic nervous system activation. Ongoing research and clinical applications pairing VNS with activities promoting learning and stroke recovery are promising [1]. taVNS has also been used in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury and may improve their oromotor coordination during feeding [2].
Source: BRAIN STIMULATION: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation - August 21, 2023 Category: Neurology Authors: Melanie W. Gail, Catrina Sims-Robinson, Heather Boger, Adviye Ergul, Rupak Mukherjee, Dorothea D. Jenkins, Mark S. George Source Type: research