Hitting the right nerve: effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on symptoms of anxiety

Author(s):
Burger, A.M. (0000-0002-5727-1130)
Published
2019
Publication type
Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

he overarching goal of this

dissertation was to assess whether transcutaneous vagus nerve

stimulation (tVNS) has beneficial effects over sham stimulation in laboratory models of anxiety. Specifically, in Part I, the effects of tVNS were tested in a fear conditioning paradigm to test the utility of tVNS as an add-on treatment for exposure therapy. In Part II, the effects of tVNS as a stand-alone treatment for one of the core symptoms of anxiety – perseverative cognition – was tested within the experimental framework of a Breathing Focus task. Part III deals with working mechanisms: what is the optimal site of the ear to stimulate the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) and what is the hypothesized working mechanism underlying the anxiolytic effects of tVNS? Specifically, the effects of tVNS on both physiological as well as behavioral indices of locus coeruleus – noradrenaline (LC-NA) network activity were tested.

Vagus Nerve Stimulationanxietylearningfear conditioningnoradrenaline
Defense date
2019-05-15
Language
English
Supervisor(s)
Does, W. van der; Brosschot, J.F.
Advisor(s)
Verkuil, B.
Committee member(s)
Bruijn, E.R.A. de; Vonck, K.; Verwijk, E.
Qualification
Ph.D.
Degree granting institution
Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden
hdl
1887/72624

Funding

Sponsorship
This work was supported by a research grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) awarded to Bart Verkuil (Veni Grant 451-14-013)