03024nas a2200205 4500008004100000022001400041245013300055210006900188260001600257520226200273100001802535700001602553700001802569700002202587700001902609700001902628700002402647700002302671856012402694 2024 eng d a2692-820500aDoes Vibrotactile Stimulation of the Auricular Vagus Nerve Enhance Working Memory? A Behavioral and Physiological Investigation.0 aDoes Vibrotactile Stimulation of the Auricular Vagus Nerve Enhan c2024 Mar 273 a

BACKGROUND: Working memory is essential to a wide range of cognitive functions and activities. Transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) is a promising method to improve working memory performance. However, the feasibility and scalability of electrical stimulation are constrained by several limitations, such as auricular discomfort and inconsistent electrical contact.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop a novel and practical method, vibrotactile taVNS, to improve working memory. Further, we investigated its effects on arousal, measured by skin conductance and pupil diameter.

METHOD: This study included 20 healthy participants. Behavioral response, skin conductance, and eye tracking data were concurrently recorded while the participants performed N-back tasks under three conditions: vibrotactile taVNS delivered to the cymba concha, earlobe (sham control), and no stimulation (baseline control).

RESULTS: In 4-back tasks, which demand maximal working memory capacity, active vibrotactile taVNS significantly improved the performance metric ' compared to the baseline but not to the sham. Moreover, we found that the reduction rate of ' with increasing task difficulty was significantly smaller during vibrotactile taVNS sessions than in both baseline and sham conditions. Arousal, measured as skin conductance and pupil diameter, declined over the course of the tasks. Vibrotactile taVNS rescued this arousal decline, leading to arousal levels corresponding to optimal working memory levels. Moreover, pupil diameter and skin conductance level were higher during high-cognitive-load tasks when vibrotactile taVNS was delivered to the concha compared to baseline and sham.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that vibrotactile taVNS modulates the arousal pathway and could be a potential intervention for enhancing working memory.

HIGHLIGHTS: Vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve increases general arousal.Vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve mitigates arousal decreases as subjects continuously perform working memory tasks.6 Hz Vibrotactile auricular vagus nerve stimulation is a potential intervention for enhancing working memory performance.

1 aTan, Gansheng1 aAdams, Josh1 aDonovan, Kara1 aDemarest, Phillip1 aWillie, Jon, T1 aBrunner, Peter1 aGorlewicz, Jenna, L1 aLeuthardt, Eric, C uhttps://www.neurotechcenter.org/publications/2024/does-vibrotactile-stimulation-auricular-vagus-nerve-enhance-working-103030nas a2200361 4500008004100000022001400041245013300055210006900188260001700257300001200274490000700286520191700293653001002210653001102220653002702231653001102258653000902269653002302278653001002301653001602311653002802327653001402355653001602369100001802385700001602403700001802419700002202437700001902459700001902478700002402497700002302521856012402544 2024 eng d a1876-475400aDoes vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhance working memory? A behavioral and physiological investigation.0 aDoes vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhan c2024 Mar-Apr a460-4680 v173 a

BACKGROUND: Working memory is essential to a wide range of cognitive functions and activities. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a promising method to improve working memory performance. However, the feasibility and scalability of electrical stimulation are constrained by several limitations, such as auricular discomfort and inconsistent electrical contact.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop a novel and practical method, vibrotactile taVNS, to improve working memory. Further, we investigated its effects on arousal, measured by skin conductance and pupil diameter.

METHOD: This study included 20 healthy participants. Behavioral response, skin conductance, and eye tracking data were concurrently recorded while the participants performed N-back tasks under three conditions: vibrotactile taVNS delivered to the cymba concha, earlobe (sham control), and no stimulation (baseline control).

RESULTS: In 4-back tasks, which demand maximal working memory capacity, active vibrotactile taVNS significantly improved the performance metric d compared to the baseline but not to the sham. Moreover, we found that the reduction rate of d with increasing task difficulty was significantly smaller during vibrotactile taVNS sessions than in both baseline and sham conditions. Arousal, measured as skin conductance and pupil diameter, declined over the course of the tasks. Vibrotactile taVNS rescued this arousal decline, leading to arousal levels corresponding to optimal working memory levels. Moreover, pupil diameter and skin conductance level were higher during high-cognitive-load tasks when vibrotactile taVNS was delivered to the concha compared to baseline and sham.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that vibrotactile taVNS modulates the arousal pathway and could be a potential intervention for enhancing working memory.

10aAdult10aFemale10aGalvanic Skin Response10aHumans10aMale10aMemory, Short-Term10aPupil10aVagus Nerve10aVagus Nerve Stimulation10aVibration10aYoung Adult1 aTan, Gansheng1 aAdams, Josh1 aDonovan, Kara1 aDemarest, Phillip1 aWillie, Jon, T1 aBrunner, Peter1 aGorlewicz, Jenna, L1 aLeuthardt, Eric, C uhttps://www.neurotechcenter.org/publications/2024/does-vibrotactile-stimulation-auricular-vagus-nerve-enhance-working-000738nas a2200193 4500008004100000245013200041210006900173300001400242490000700256100001800263700001600281700001800297700002200315700001900337700001900356700002400375700002300399856012200422 2024 eng d00aDoes vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhance working memory? A behavioral and physiological investigation0 aDoes vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhan a460–4680 v171 aTan, Gansheng1 aAdams, Josh1 aDonovan, Kara1 aDemarest, Phillip1 aWillie, Jon, T1 aBrunner, Peter1 aGorlewicz, Jenna, L1 aLeuthardt, Eric, C uhttps://www.neurotechcenter.org/publications/2024/does-vibrotactile-stimulation-auricular-vagus-nerve-enhance-working