Effects of Concomitant Stimulation of the GABAergic and Norepinephrine System on Inhibitory Control - A Study Using Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Abstract

Background: Inhibitory control processes are a central executive function. Several lines of evidence suggest that the GABAergic and the norepinephrine (NE) system modulate inhibitory control processes. Yet, the effects of conjoint increases in the GABAergic and NE system activity on inhibitory control have not been examined.

Objective/hypothesis: We examine the conjoint effects of the GABA and NE system for inhibitory control.

Methods: We used transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), which has been shown to modulate both the GABAergic and NE system. We examine the effects of tVNS in two experimental paradigms examining different aspect of inhibitory control; i.e. a backward inhibition paradigm and a response inhibition paradigm modulating working memory load.

Results: There were no effects of tVNS on backward inhibition processes, but on response inhibition processes. Yet, these only emerged when working memory processes were needed to control response inhibition. Compared to a sham stimulation, tVNS induced better response inhibition performance (i.e. fewer false alarms).

Conclusions: A concomitant modulation of the GABAergic and NE system, as induced by tVNS, affects inhibitory control processes, but only when working memory processes play an important role for inhibitory control. Even though both the GABAergic and the NE system are modulated by tVNS, the results suggest that the modulation of the NE system is most important for the emerging effects.

Keywords: Backward inhibition; GABA; Inhibitory control; Norepinephrine; Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation; Working memory.