Advances in VNS efficiency and mechanisms of action on cognitive functions

作者：Wendi Wang, Rui Li, Chuangtao Li, Qimin Liang, Xiaolin Gao · 发表于：Frontiers in Physiology · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3389/fphys.2024.1452490 · 被引用次数：27 · 研究领域：Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research、Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study、Neurological disorders and treatments

Objective: This systematic review aims to comprehensively analyze the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in enhancing cognitive functions and its therapeutic potential for various cognitive impairments. The review focuses on the impact of VNS on emotional processing, executive functions, learning, memory, and its clinical applications in conditions such as epilepsy, depression, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurological disorders. Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) was conducted using the keywords "vagus nerve stimulation," "cognitive enhancement," "emotional processing," "executive function," "learning and memory," "epilepsy," "depression," "Alzheimer's disease," "neurological disorders," "attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder," "sleep disorders," and "long COVID." The inclusion criteria encompassed controlled trials, longitudinal studies, and meta-analyses published in English between 2000 and July 2024. Results: A comprehensive review of 100 articles highlighted the cognitive effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS). Studies show that VNS, especially through transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS), enhances emotional recognition, particularly for facial expressions, and improves selective attention under high cognitive demands. Additionally, VNS enhances learning and memory, including associative memory and spatial working memory tasks. In clinical applications, VNS exhibits promising bene...