Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Neuromodulation. 2022 Apr;25(3):380-394. doi: 10.1111/ner.13458. Epub 2021 Jun 23.
OBJECTIVES: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a relatively novel noninvasive neurostimulation method that is believed to mimic the effects of invasive cervical VNS. It has recently been suggested that the effectiveness of taVNS can be enhanced by combining it with controlled slow breathing. Slow breathing modulates the activity of the vagus nerve and is used in behavioral medicine to decrease psychophysiological arousal. Based on studies that examine the effects of taVNS and slow breathing separately, this article speculates on some of the conditions in which this combination treatment may prove effective. Furthermore, based on findings from studies on the optimization of taVNS and slow breathing, this article provides guidance on how to combine taVNS with slow breathing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A nonsystematic review. RESULTS: Both taVNS and slow breathing are considered promising add-on therapeutic approaches for anxiety and depressive disorders, chronic pain, cardiovascular diseases, and insomnia. Therefore, taVNS combined with slow breathing may produce additive or even synergistic beneficial effects in these conditions. Studies on respiratory-gated taVNS during spontaneous breathing suggest that taVNS should be delivered during expiration. Therefore, this article proposes to use taVNS as a breathing pacer to indicate when and for how long to exhale during slow breathing exercises. CONCLUSIONS: Combining taVNS with slow breathing seems to be a promising hybrid neurostimulation and behavioral intervention.
目的:经皮耳迷走神经刺激(taVNS)是一种相对较新的非侵入性神经刺激方法,据信它可以模拟侵入性颈部 VNS 的效果。最近有人提出,通过将 taVNS 与受控的缓慢呼吸相结合,可以增强 taVNS 的有效性。缓慢呼吸可以调节迷走神经的活动,并且在行为医学中被用于降低心理生理唤醒。基于分别研究 taVNS 和缓慢呼吸效果的研究,本文推测了这种联合治疗可能有效的一些情况。此外,根据 taVNS 和缓慢呼吸优化研究的结果,本文就如何将 taVNS 与缓慢呼吸相结合提供了指导。
材料和方法:非系统性综述。
结果:taVNS 和缓慢呼吸都被认为是治疗焦虑和抑郁障碍、慢性疼痛、心血管疾病和失眠的有前途的附加治疗方法。因此,taVNS 与缓慢呼吸联合使用可能会在这些情况下产生附加的甚至协同的有益效果。在自主呼吸期间进行呼吸门控 taVNS 的研究表明,taVNS 应在呼气时进行。因此,本文提出使用 taVNS 作为呼吸起搏,以指示在缓慢呼吸运动期间何时以及呼气多长时间。
结论:将 taVNS 与缓慢呼吸相结合似乎是一种很有前途的混合神经刺激和行为干预方法。
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