Transcutaneous auricular vagus stimulation (taVNS) improves human working memory performance under sleep deprivation stress

Rui Zhao; Meng-Ying Chang; Chen Cheng; Qian-Qian Tian; Xue-Juan Yang; Meng-Yu Du; Ya-Peng Cui; Zhao-Yang He; Fu-Min Wang; Yao Kong; Hui Deng; Li-Ming Lu; Chun-Zhi Tang; Neng-Gui Xu; Jin-Bo Sun; Wei Qin

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114247

Transcutaneous auricular vagus stimulation (taVNS) improves human working memory performance under sleep deprivation stress

Behav Brain Res. 2023 Feb 15:439:114247. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114247. Epub 2022 Dec 5.

Authors

Rui Zhao¹, Meng-Ying Chang¹, Chen Cheng², Qian-Qian Tian³, Xue-Juan Yang⁴, Meng-Yu Du³, Ya-Peng Cui³, Zhao-Yang He¹, Fu-Min Wang¹, Yao Kong¹, Hui Deng⁵, Li-Ming Lu⁶, Chun-Zhi Tang⁶, Neng-Gui Xu⁶, Jin-Bo Sun⁷, Wei Qin⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Electronics and Information, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xi'an, China.
² Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China.
³ Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China.
⁴ Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; Guangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China. Electronic address: xjyang@xidian.edu.cn.
⁵ Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; Guangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China.
⁶ South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
⁷ Intelligent Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Technology and Transformation Joint Laboratory, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China; Guangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China. Electronic address: sunjb@xidian.edu.cn.

PMID: 36473677
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114247

Abstract

Many human activities require high cognitive performance over long periods, while impairments induced by sleep deprivation influence various aspects of cognitive abilities, including working memory (WM), attention, and processing speed. Based on previous research, vagal nerve stimulation can modulate cognitive abilities, attention, and arousal. Two experiments were conducted to assess the efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) to relieve the deleterious effects of sleep deprivation. In the first experiment, 35 participants completed N-back tasks at 8:00 a.m. for two consecutive days in a within-subject study. Then, the participants received either taVNS or earlobe stimulation (active control) intervention in two sessions at random orders after 24 h of sustained wakefulness. Then, they completed the N-back tasks again. In the second experiment, 30 participants completed the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), and 32 completed the N-back tasks at 8:00 a.m. on the first and second days. Then, they received either taVNS or earlobe stimulation at random orders and finished the N-back and PVT tasks immediately after one hour. In Experiment 1, taVNS could significantly improve the accuracy rate of participants in spatial 3-back tasks compared to active control, which was consistent with experiment 2. However, taVNS did not specifically enhance PVT performance. Therefore, taVNS could be a powerful intervention for acute sleep deprivation as it can improve performance on high cognitive load tasks and is easy to administer.

Keywords: Fatigue countermeasure; Non-invasive neuromodulation; Sleep deprivation; TaVNS; Working memory.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cognition
Humans
Memory, Short-Term
Sleep Deprivation
Vagus Nerve / physiology
Vagus Nerve Stimulation*