Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Induced Parasympathetic
Activation modulates experimental pain as assessed with the nociceptive
withdrawal reflex
Abstract
The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of transcutaneous vagus
nerve stimulation (tVNS) to the left cymba concha on the pain perception
using nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR), which is known to be
associated with chronic pain, and to investigate whether tVNS-induced
suppression of the NWR and parasympathetic activation is correlated. We
applied either 3.0 mA, 100 Hz tVNS for 120 s in the left cymba concha
(tVNS condition) or the left earlobe (Sham condition) for twenty healthy
adults. NWR threshold was measured before (Baseline), immediately after
(Post 0), 10 min (Post 10) and 30 min after (Post 30) stimulation. The
NWR threshold was obtained from biceps femoris muscle by applying
electrical stimulation to the sural nerve. During tVNS,
electrocardiograph was recorded, and changes in autonomic nervous
activity were analyzed. We found that the NWR thresholds at Post 10 and
Post 30 increased compared to baseline in the tVNS group (10 min after:
p = 0.048 30 min after: p = 0.037). In addition, increased
parasympathetic activity by tVNS correlated with a greater increase in
NWR threshold at Post 10 and Post 30 (Post 10: p = 0.01; Post 30: p =
0.005). The present results demonstrate the pain-suppressing effect of
tVNS as assessed with NWR threshold and suggest that the degree of
parasympathetic activation during tVNS may predict the effect of tVNS
after its application.