Feasibility of vagus nerve modulation (VNMM/taVNS) in cognitive-swallowing dual-task paradigms: a fNIRS pilot study
BackgroundNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation techniques show promise for modulating cortical networks, but their comparative effects during combined cognitive-swallowing tasks remain underexplored.AimsThis feasibility study aimed to: (1) establish a protocol for assessing transauricular vagus nerv...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1619532/full |
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| author | Zhiyong Wang Zhiyong Wang Keling Cheng Junhui Bai Cuicui Zhang Jun Ni Jun Ni |
| author_facet | Zhiyong Wang Zhiyong Wang Keling Cheng Junhui Bai Cuicui Zhang Jun Ni Jun Ni |
| author_sort | Zhiyong Wang |
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| description | BackgroundNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation techniques show promise for modulating cortical networks, but their comparative effects during combined cognitive-swallowing tasks remain underexplored.AimsThis feasibility study aimed to: (1) establish a protocol for assessing transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and VNMM effects using fNIRS during dual-task paradigms, and (2) compare their impacts on cortical activation and functional connectivity.MethodsThis protocol (ChiCTR2200065698) consisted of two separate blocks, a cognitive task (n = 25) and a swallowing task (n = 25), and healthy subjects in either block were randomly assigned to the taVNS and VNMM groups. The subjects underwent swallowing or cognitive task-state data acquisition before and after the trial intervention. The functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data were analyzed by generalized linear modeling (GLM) and seed-based correlation analysis to assess the cortical excitability and brain connectivity, and a BrainNet Viewer was used to visualize the intervention effects.ResultsUnder the cognitive and swallowing task-state fNIRS protocols, both taVNS and VNMM significantly enhanced the activation effects and intra/inter-hemispheric brain network connectivity in the cognitive or swallowing-related brain regions (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the feasibility of using fNIRS to differentiate taVNS/VNMM effects during dual-task paradigms. Preliminary data suggest VNMM may offer superior network modulation, warranting larger trials to validate behavioral correlates.Clinical trial registrationChictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2200065698. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-34829d8b0c7840b2b0baf2100b08c7bf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-34829d8b0c7840b2b0baf2100b08c7bf2025-08-20T03:39:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2025-08-011910.3389/fnins.2025.16195321619532Feasibility of vagus nerve modulation (VNMM/taVNS) in cognitive-swallowing dual-task paradigms: a fNIRS pilot studyZhiyong Wang0Zhiyong Wang1Keling Cheng2Junhui Bai3Cuicui Zhang4Jun Ni5Jun Ni6Department of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, ChinaBackgroundNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation techniques show promise for modulating cortical networks, but their comparative effects during combined cognitive-swallowing tasks remain underexplored.AimsThis feasibility study aimed to: (1) establish a protocol for assessing transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and VNMM effects using fNIRS during dual-task paradigms, and (2) compare their impacts on cortical activation and functional connectivity.MethodsThis protocol (ChiCTR2200065698) consisted of two separate blocks, a cognitive task (n = 25) and a swallowing task (n = 25), and healthy subjects in either block were randomly assigned to the taVNS and VNMM groups. The subjects underwent swallowing or cognitive task-state data acquisition before and after the trial intervention. The functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data were analyzed by generalized linear modeling (GLM) and seed-based correlation analysis to assess the cortical excitability and brain connectivity, and a BrainNet Viewer was used to visualize the intervention effects.ResultsUnder the cognitive and swallowing task-state fNIRS protocols, both taVNS and VNMM significantly enhanced the activation effects and intra/inter-hemispheric brain network connectivity in the cognitive or swallowing-related brain regions (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the feasibility of using fNIRS to differentiate taVNS/VNMM effects during dual-task paradigms. Preliminary data suggest VNMM may offer superior network modulation, warranting larger trials to validate behavioral correlates.Clinical trial registrationChictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2200065698.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1619532/fulltransauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS)vagus nerve magnetic modulationfunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)cortical excitabilitybrain connectivityfeasibility study |
| spellingShingle | Zhiyong Wang Zhiyong Wang Keling Cheng Junhui Bai Cuicui Zhang Jun Ni Jun Ni Feasibility of vagus nerve modulation (VNMM/taVNS) in cognitive-swallowing dual-task paradigms: a fNIRS pilot study Frontiers in Neuroscience transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) vagus nerve magnetic modulation functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) cortical excitability brain connectivity feasibility study |
| title | Feasibility of vagus nerve modulation (VNMM/taVNS) in cognitive-swallowing dual-task paradigms: a fNIRS pilot study |
| title_full | Feasibility of vagus nerve modulation (VNMM/taVNS) in cognitive-swallowing dual-task paradigms: a fNIRS pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility of vagus nerve modulation (VNMM/taVNS) in cognitive-swallowing dual-task paradigms: a fNIRS pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility of vagus nerve modulation (VNMM/taVNS) in cognitive-swallowing dual-task paradigms: a fNIRS pilot study |
| title_short | Feasibility of vagus nerve modulation (VNMM/taVNS) in cognitive-swallowing dual-task paradigms: a fNIRS pilot study |
| title_sort | feasibility of vagus nerve modulation vnmm tavns in cognitive swallowing dual task paradigms a fnirs pilot study |
| topic | transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) vagus nerve magnetic modulation functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) cortical excitability brain connectivity feasibility study |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1619532/full |
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