Auricular Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Diminishes Alpha-Band-Related Inhibitory Gating Processes During Conflict Monitoring in Frontal Cortices

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

Abstract

Background: Pursuing goals is compromised when being confronted with interfering information. In such situations, conflict monitoring is important. Theoretical considerations on the neurobiology of response selection and control suggest that auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (atVNS) should modulate conflict monitoring. However, the neurophysiological-functional neuroanatomical underpinnings are still not understood. Methods: AtVNS was applied in a randomized crossover study design (n = 45). During atVNS or sham stimulation, conflict monitoring was assessed using a Flanker task. EEG data were recorded and analyzed with focus on theta and alpha band activity. Beamforming was applied to examine functional neuroanatomical correlates of atVNS-induced EEG modulations. Moreover, temporal EEG signal decomposition was applied to examine different coding levels in alpha and theta band activity. Results: AtVNS compromised conflict monitoring processes when it was applied at the second appointment in the crossover study design. On a neurophysiological level, atVNS exerted specific effects because only alpha-band activity was modulated. Alpha-band activity was lower in middle and superior prefrontal regions during atVNS stimulation and thus lower when there was also a decline in task performance. The same direction of alpha-band modulations was evident in fractions of the alpha-band activity coding stimulus-related processes, stimulus-response translation processes, and motor response-related processes. Conclusions: The combination of prior task experience and atVNS compromises conflict monitoring processes. This is likely due to reduction of the alpha-band-associated inhibitory gating process on interfering information in frontal cortices. Future research should pay considerable attention to boundary conditions affecting the direction of atVNS effects.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)457-467
Seitenumfang11
FachzeitschriftInternational journal of neuropsychopharmacology
Jahrgang25
Ausgabenummer6
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 1 Juni 2022
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 35137108
ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/160952386
ORCID /0000-0002-9069-7803/work/160953283

Schlagworte

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

Schlagwörter

  • alpha band, Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (atVNS), beamforming, conflict monitoring, EEG, theta band

Bibliotheksschlagworte