Tag: TaVNS

TaVNS Encourages Divergent Thinking in Healthy Volunteers

Neuropsychologia. 2018 Jan 8. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) enhances divergent thinking. Colzato LS1, Ritter SM2, Steenbergen L3. Author information 1 Leiden University, Cognitive Psychology Unit & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Institute for Sports…

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TaVNS and fMRI of different ear regions

I have been using cymba concha stimulation in my clinic for TaVNS.  This article corroborates that practice. Neuromodulation. 2017 Apr;20(3):290-300. doi: 10.1111/ner.12541. Epub 2016 Nov 29. Optimization of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Using Functional MRI. Yakunina N1,2, Kim SS2,3, Nam EC2,4. Author information Abstract OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an established therapy for drug-resistant…

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Medical Research

Acupuncture Effect on Startle and HRV in Beagles

This article is similar to the article on horses which also showed a blunting of the autonomic response to startle. There was also this article that looked at startle in young men showing that TAVNS improved their response to startle. Physiol Behav. 2018 Jan 9;186:37-44. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.01.006. [Epub ahead of print] Effects of acupuncture on…

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Case Studies

Acupuncture, Stress Levels and Chronic Intractable Migraine: Af.Es. editioin

This data is from a relatively new patient who has severe, chronic migraine.  He is on multiple medications.  He takes daily medications, anti-anxiety medications, and tryptans for attacks.  The first priority is to try to stabilize his system with acupuncture and avoiding tryptans whenever possible.  He is unable to work, so the disability he is…

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Case Studies

Acupuncture, Stress Levels (HRV), and Vestibular Migraine: El.Di. edition

This is another story from the clinic with data.  This is patient who has dizziness with headache, high blood pressure, and anxiety.  All of these conditions seem linked.  He carries a diagnosis of Vestibular Migraine, but it’s hard to know if his is an actual migraine type condition or something else.  Migraine patients have certain…

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Case Studies

TaVNS and HRV: Clinical Studies El.Ma. Edition

One more chapter in the TAVNS story.  We have discussed this patient before,  here and here.  This is a young woman, migraineur, who has had dramatic and almost complete remission of her migraines.  She has had one or two “break through” headaches during her menstrual cycles, but for the most part is headache free and…

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Case Studies

TaVNS and HRV monitoring: Case Study Ra.Bo. edition

This is an example of how I try use the heart rate variability analysis data to help determine best treatment options.  This patient has anxiety and high blood pressure.  I wanted to see if the Ear stimulation device (TAVNS) that I use would help lower her stress levels. So if you look below each group…

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Case Studies

TaVNS and Acupuncture for Anxiety: De.Bo edition

(TaVNS =Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation) We have discussed this patient’s case before  and here.  She is still having trouble with congestion, but her stress levels continue to decrease.  She is using a custom electrode I made for her at home a few times a week.  So this blog post is an update showing her…

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Hidden Signals: History and Relevance of HRV

This is a handy and thorough overview of HRV history and applications.  Some useful tables and basics on the various parameters used in HRV (time, frequency and non-linear measures.) I’ve pasted some of the text here for my own reference and for readers. ” Already more than one century ago scientists observed and proposed associations…

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tVNS in PTSD patients: Ability to reduce startle and improve HRV

This study evaluates the startle response in patients with PTSD after TaVNS (Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation).  They showed less startle and improved HRV compared to sham during head tilt provocation.  They made custom ear electrodes, as I’ve been doing in the clinic.  This reminds me of one of my favorite articles of all time…

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