Ferreira Luciano Maia Alves, Brites Ricardo, Fraião Gonçalo, Pereira Gonçalo, Fernandes Henrique, de Brito José Américo Almeida, Pereira Generoso Laura, Maziero Capello Maria Gabriela, Pereira Gabrielly Santos, Scoz Robson Dias, Silva Josie Resende Torres, Silva Marcelo Lourenço
Neuromodulation and Pain Unit (NeuroPain), Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Almada, Portugal.
Laboratory of Neuroscience, Neuromodulation and Study of Pain (LANNED), Federal University of Alfenas - UNIFAL-MG, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Front Integr Neurosci. 2024 Jul 10;18:1422312. doi: 10.3389/fnint.2024.1422312. eCollection 2024.
Chronic anxiety is a statemarked by sustained activation of the masseter muscle, manifesting in both mental and physical strain. This prolonged tension can significantly impact mental wellbeing and cognitive abilities, posing a risk for a range of health complications. This double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial investigated the impact of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (TAVNS) on masseter muscle activity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and anxiety levels in university students with elevated anxiety.
Forty-two participants meeting inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either active TAVNS or sham TAVNS groups. Various parameters, including masseter muscle electromyographic (EMG) signals, PPT, and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores, were assessed before pretreatment, immediately after the intervention week, and 2 weeks follow-up.
Active TAVNS significantly reduced both left and right masseter activation during resting mandibular position, persisting for 2 weeks post-intervention. Additionally, TAVNS induced a lasting decrease in both left and right masseter PPT, indicative of altered pain perception. Notably, BAI scores showed a substantial reduction, emphasizing TAVNS as a potential intervention for anxiety, with effects maintained at the 2-week follow-up.
This study provides comprehensive insights into the multifaceted effects of TAVNS on physiological and psychological aspects associated with anxiety in university students. The promising results underscore TAVNS as a potential neuromodulatory intervention for anxiety-related conditions, warranting further research and clinical exploration.
慢性焦虑是一种以咬肌持续激活为特征的状态，表现为精神和身体上的紧张。这种长期的紧张会显著影响心理健康和认知能力，带来一系列健康并发症的风险。这项双盲、随机、对照临床试验研究了经皮耳迷走神经刺激（TAVNS）对焦虑水平升高的大学生咬肌活动、压力疼痛阈值（PPT）和焦虑水平的影响。
42名符合纳入标准的参与者被随机分配到主动TAVNS组或假TAVNS组。在预处理前、干预周后立即以及随访2周时评估了各种参数，包括咬肌肌电图（EMG）信号、PPT和贝克焦虑量表（BAI）得分。
主动TAVNS在静息下颌位置时显著降低了左右咬肌的激活，干预后持续2周。此外，TAVNS导致左右咬肌PPT持续下降，表明疼痛感知发生了改变。值得注意的是，BAI得分显著降低，强调TAVNS作为一种潜在的焦虑干预措施，其效果在2周随访时仍得以维持。
本研究全面深入地探讨了TAVNS对大学生焦虑相关生理和心理方面的多方面影响。这些有前景的结果强调TAVNS作为一种针对焦虑相关病症的潜在神经调节干预措施，值得进一步研究和临床探索。
