Neural networks and the anti-inflammatory effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in depression
Open accessAbstract
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a relatively non-invasive alternative treatment for patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD). It has been postulated that acupuncture may achieve its treatment effects on MDD through suppression of vagal nerve inflammatory responses. Our previous research established that taVNS significantly increases amygdala-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex connectivity, which is associated with a reduction in depression severity. However, the relationship between taVNS and the central/peripheral functional state of the immune system, as well as changes in brain neural circuits, have not as yet been elucidated. In the present paper, we outline the anatomic foundation of taVNS and emphasize that it significantly modulates the activity and connectivity of a wide range of neural networks, including the default mode network, executive network, and networks involved in emotional and reward circuits. In addition, we present the inflammatory mechanism of MDD and describe how taVNS inhibits central and peripheral inflammation, which is possibly related to the effectiveness of taVNS in reducing depression severity. Our review suggests a link between the suppression of inflammation and changes in brain regions/circuits post taVNS.
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taVNS produces changes in resting-state functional connectivity distributed throughout several neural networks involved in addiction, including the default mode, salience, and executive networks.
“Previous findings have also demonstrated that taVNS produces changes in resting-state functional connectivity distributed throughout several neural networks involved in addiction, including the default mode, salience, and executive networks [123].”
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References 108 · Cited by 210
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [5]Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment Treatment of depression: a systematic review 2004 Stockholm Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment (SBU) 28876724
- [36]Liu J Rong P Wang L Liu R Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on major depressive disorder: a nonrandomized controlled pilot study J Affect Disord 2016 195 172 179 10.1016/j.jad.2016.02.031 26896810 PMC4828906 · DOI · Paper page
- Authors
- Liu, C.-H., Yang, M.-H., Zhang, G.-Z., Wang, X.-X., Li, B., Li, M., Woelfer, M., Walter, M., & Wang, L.
- Affiliations
- Capital Medical University (CN)
- Jena University Hospital (DE)
- New Jersey Institute of Technology (US)
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (DE)
- UConn Health (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, Lihong
- Venue
- Journal of Neuroinflammation
- Published
- 2020-02-12
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 54-54
- ISSN
- 1742-2094 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7017619
- OpenAlex
- W3006109198
- Cited by
- 210
- References
- 108
- Citations by year
- 2026: 39 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 9
- FWCI
- 2.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Neuroinflammation (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Informationszentrum Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (81871507 and 81471389)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, major depressive disorder, anti-inflammatory activity, neuroinflammation, vagus nerve, default mode network, executive network, neural circuits, immunomodulation, acupuncture
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Nerve Net, Vagus Nerve Stimulation
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