Vagus nerve stimulation and sensory overlearning mode
It's no secret that a musician may practice to clearly distinguish the pitch of a sound, or a Formula 1 driver may practice to improve his reaction speed. In fact, all mammals are capable of improving their hearing, vision and other senses through practice. This process is known as perceptual learning. And this learning can be accelerated through the activation of the main nerve, which connects the brain to almost every organ in the body. The first lucky ones to be augmented, as always, were the mice.
The work of the brain, and the overall productivity of the body, as always, is tied to the complex work of systems, organs and tissues. The main feature is to select adequate stimulation in order to achieve maximum output from the body and super-performance in business. In this article we will touch upon research on one of many biomechanisms. And more about the brain and productivity, as always, read the community materials!
Vagus nerve stimulation and learning
Health Center Study Langone at New York University, focuses on the vagus nerve, which carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body, including the heart, digestive system and other organs.
Experts have long been studying the possibility of influencing this nerve with weak electrical impulses to treat a wide range of diseases: from epilepsy and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder and hearing impairment.
However, the results of such interventions have been mixed, and the underlying mechanisms that may lead to sensory improvements have remained unclear. The new work is designed to overthrow the status quo.
Vagus nerve and sensory organs
To further examine whether vagus nerve stimulation could improve perceptual learning, the research team trained 38 mice to discriminate musical tones. The original goal was to improve performance in all animals. The trend was that the mice made fewer and fewer mistakes.
Changes began after reaching a plateau. Rodents that continued learning without any intervention peaked after about a week of training. And the rodents that received vagus nerve stimulation continued to improve their skills, making an average of 10% fewer errors on most tests than before the intervention.
In addition, the mice in the experimental group made half as many errors as their mice on the most difficult tasks, in which they had to distinguish between very similar tones.
Our results suggest that activation of the vagus nerve during learning helps to go beyond what animals and perhaps even humans are capable of perceiving.
Kathleen Martin, lead author of the study.
Vagus nerve and brain
In the second part of the study, the researchers assessed how and where vagus nerve stimulation affects the brain. The results showed that nerve stimulation increased activity in the cholinergic basal forebrain, an area involved in attention and memory. When the team reprogrammed the equipment to suppress activity in the same area, the rodents experienced no additional learning benefits.
Additionally, the team showed that vagus nerve stimulation increases characteristic neuroplasticity. a consequence of taking certain nootropics. This is the process by which brain cells adapt more effectively to new experiences and form memories. This particular example involves the growth of neurons in the auditory cortex, the brain's main hearing center. This leads to long-term cellular changes that allow new skills to persist long after learning is complete.
Targeting the vagus nerve to improve hearing has previously been controversial among experts because previous animal studies have not shown significant improvements.
Kathleen Martin, lead author of the study.
Why did the new vagus nerve stimulation work at all?
The new study suggests that the method actually works, although the results came later than the researchers originally expected. This delay may be partly due to the fact that the electrical impulses distract the experimental animals, which need time to get used to the sensations.
The authors note that the use of vagus nerve stimulation to improve hearing goes far beyond the development of musical abilities alone. Perceptual learning is a key component in both learning a new language and adapting to cochlear implants. neuroprosthetic instrumentsused to restore hearing. Notably, it often takes months for patients to get used to these devices, and some people continue to experience difficulties even after years of use.
These results highlight the potential of vagus nerve stimulation to accelerate hearing adaptation to cochlear implants. By accelerating perceptual learning, the method could make it easier for implant users to communicate with people, hear approaching cars and interact more effectively with the world around them.
Senior study author Robert Froemke, Ph.D.
Electrical stimulators currently used to activate the vagus nerve are only a few centimeters in size and can be implanted during an outpatient surgical procedure. Some devices, such as those used to relieve migraines, are even less invasive and are simply applied to the neck.
Prospects for vagus nerve stimulation
Based on our findings, we plan to further test vagus nerve stimulation in rodents with cochlear implants to see if it improves their adaptability.
Senior study author Robert Froemke, Ph.D.
Robert also cautions that because the vagus nerve in humans is much larger and more complex than in mice, the effects of stimulating it may differ and therefore require further in-depth testing.
Well, it's great that humanity is finding new ways to develop and improve the available skills and abilities. Keeping your finger on the pulse, you always know what you can use from the available tools. About this and much more, read the community materials. Subscribe so you don't miss the latest articles.
