Investigating the Neural Modulatory Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation via Independent Component Analysis of fMRI Data

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique with significant therapeutic potential in several neurological and psychiatric disorders. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) combined with independent component analysis (ICA) to investigate taVNS-induced neural network changes in healthy young adults. Sixteen participants underwent fMRI scans before and after 30 minutes of taVNS stimulation. The 30 min electrical stimulation was delivered in an intermittent pattern at 20 Hz according to each participant's pain threshold. Our analysis revealed significant changes in subcortical areas, particularly within the brainstem and cerebellum. These findings contribute to our understanding of the neuromodulatory role of taVNS and provide valuable insights into its potential mechanisms of action, laying the groundwork for future clinical applications in precision medicine and health big data analytics.