Modulating salience network connectivity through olfactory nerve stimulation
Abstract Depression is associated with reduced functional connectivity within the brain’s salience network and its strengthened interactions with the default mode network (DMN). Modification of this clinical pattern is challenging. Leveraging the direct neural pathways from olfactory processing regi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Translational Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03500-6 |
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| _version_ | 1849225894051184640 |
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| author | Carina Heller Maria Geisler Nicolas L. Mayer Annabelle Thierfelder Martin Walter Thomas Hummel Ilona Croy |
| author_facet | Carina Heller Maria Geisler Nicolas L. Mayer Annabelle Thierfelder Martin Walter Thomas Hummel Ilona Croy |
| author_sort | Carina Heller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Depression is associated with reduced functional connectivity within the brain’s salience network and its strengthened interactions with the default mode network (DMN). Modification of this clinical pattern is challenging. Leveraging the direct neural pathways from olfactory processing regions to the salience network, we explored the effects of electrical stimulation of the olfactory mucosa on brain connectivity. In a randomized, blinded within-subject design, 45 healthy individuals received olfactory or trigeminal nerve stimulation followed by resting-state fMRI. Olfactory stimulation resulted in a significant increase in functional connectivity between the salience network and the piriform cortex – a primary olfactory structure. Importantly, this stimulation increased functional connectivity within the salience network and weakened connectivity between the salience network and the DMN. These findings suggest that olfactory stimulation may modulate connectivity patterns implicated in depression, offering a novel potential minimal invasive therapeutic strategy. However, as these results were obtained from a healthy cohort, further studies are required to evaluate the efficacy in individuals with depression. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-21aa45fe24f549d6b943e52f3fce5ace |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2158-3188 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Translational Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-21aa45fe24f549d6b943e52f3fce5ace2025-08-24T11:51:43ZengNature Publishing GroupTranslational Psychiatry2158-31882025-08-0115111010.1038/s41398-025-03500-6Modulating salience network connectivity through olfactory nerve stimulationCarina Heller0Maria Geisler1Nicolas L. Mayer2Annabelle Thierfelder3Martin Walter4Thomas Hummel5Ilona Croy6Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University HospitalLab for Autonomic Neuroscience, Imaging and Cognition (LANIC), Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Jena University HospitalSmell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität DresdenDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University JenaDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University HospitalSmell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität DresdenGerman Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Jena-Magdeburg-HalleAbstract Depression is associated with reduced functional connectivity within the brain’s salience network and its strengthened interactions with the default mode network (DMN). Modification of this clinical pattern is challenging. Leveraging the direct neural pathways from olfactory processing regions to the salience network, we explored the effects of electrical stimulation of the olfactory mucosa on brain connectivity. In a randomized, blinded within-subject design, 45 healthy individuals received olfactory or trigeminal nerve stimulation followed by resting-state fMRI. Olfactory stimulation resulted in a significant increase in functional connectivity between the salience network and the piriform cortex – a primary olfactory structure. Importantly, this stimulation increased functional connectivity within the salience network and weakened connectivity between the salience network and the DMN. These findings suggest that olfactory stimulation may modulate connectivity patterns implicated in depression, offering a novel potential minimal invasive therapeutic strategy. However, as these results were obtained from a healthy cohort, further studies are required to evaluate the efficacy in individuals with depression.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03500-6 |
| spellingShingle | Carina Heller Maria Geisler Nicolas L. Mayer Annabelle Thierfelder Martin Walter Thomas Hummel Ilona Croy Modulating salience network connectivity through olfactory nerve stimulation Translational Psychiatry |
| title | Modulating salience network connectivity through olfactory nerve stimulation |
| title_full | Modulating salience network connectivity through olfactory nerve stimulation |
| title_fullStr | Modulating salience network connectivity through olfactory nerve stimulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modulating salience network connectivity through olfactory nerve stimulation |
| title_short | Modulating salience network connectivity through olfactory nerve stimulation |
| title_sort | modulating salience network connectivity through olfactory nerve stimulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03500-6 |
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