Combined effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation and 0.1 Hz slow-paced breathing on working memory

Qian-Qian Tian; Qian-Qian Tian; Chen Cheng; Peng-Hui Liu; Peng-Hui Liu; Zi-Xin Yin; Zi-Xin Yin; Meng-Kai Zhang; Meng-Kai Zhang; Ya-Peng Cui; Ya-Peng Cui; Rui Zhao; Hui Deng; Hui Deng; Hui Deng; Li-Ming Lu; Chun-Zhi Tang; Neng-Gui Xu; Xue-Juan Yang; Xue-Juan Yang; Xue-Juan Yang; Jin-Bo Sun; Jin-Bo Sun; Jin-Bo Sun; Wei Qin; Wei Qin; Wei Qin

doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1133964

Frontiers in Neuroscience (Mar 2023)

Combined effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation and 0.1 Hz slow-paced breathing on working memory

Qian-Qian Tian,
Qian-Qian Tian,
Chen Cheng,
Peng-Hui Liu,
Peng-Hui Liu,
Zi-Xin Yin,
Zi-Xin Yin,
Meng-Kai Zhang,
Meng-Kai Zhang,
Ya-Peng Cui,
Ya-Peng Cui,
Rui Zhao,
Hui Deng,
Hui Deng,
Hui Deng,
Li-Ming Lu,
Chun-Zhi Tang,
Neng-Gui Xu,
Xue-Juan Yang,
Xue-Juan Yang,
Xue-Juan Yang,
Jin-Bo Sun,
Jin-Bo Sun,
Jin-Bo Sun,
Wei Qin,
Wei Qin,
Wei Qin

Affiliations

Qian-Qian Tian: Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Qian-Qian Tian: Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Chen Cheng: Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Peng-Hui Liu: Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Peng-Hui Liu: Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Zi-Xin Yin: Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Zi-Xin Yin: Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Meng-Kai Zhang: Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Meng-Kai Zhang: Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Ya-Peng Cui: Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Ya-Peng Cui: Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Rui Zhao: School of Electronics and Information, Xi’an Polytechnic University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Hui Deng: Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Hui Deng: Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Hui Deng: Guangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Li-Ming Lu: South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
Chun-Zhi Tang: South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
Neng-Gui Xu: South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
Xue-Juan Yang: Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Xue-Juan Yang: Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Xue-Juan Yang: Guangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Jin-Bo Sun: Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Jin-Bo Sun: Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Jin-Bo Sun: Guangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Wei Qin: Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Wei Qin: Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
Wei Qin: Guangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1133964
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 17

Abstract

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BackgroundPrevious research has found that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) can improve working memory (WM) performance. It has also been shown that 0.1 Hz slow-paced breathing (SPB, i.e., breathing at a rate of approximately 6 breaths/min) can significantly influence physical state and cognitive function via changes in autonomic afferent activity. In the present study, we investigated the synergistic effects of taVNS and SPB on WM performance.MethodsA total of 96 healthy people participated in this within-subjects experiment involving four conditions, namely taVNS, SPB, combined taVNS with SPB (taVNS + SPB), and sham. Each participant underwent each intervention for 30 min and WM was compared pre- and post-intervention using the spatial and digit n-back tasks in a random order four times. Permutation-based analysis of variance was used to assess the interaction between time and intervention.ResultsFor the spatial 3-back task, a significant interaction between time and intervention was found for the accuracy rate of matching trials (mACC, p = 0.03). Post hoc analysis suggested that both taVNS and taVNS + SPB improved WM performance, however, no significant difference was found in the SPB or sham groups.ConclusionThis study has replicated the effects of taVNS on WM performance reported in previous studies. However, the synergistic effects of combined taVNS and SPB warrant further research.

Published in Frontiers in Neuroscience

ISSN: 1662-4548 (Print); 1662-453X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/neuroscience

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