Poster Session 04 Program Schedule
02/15/2024
12:00 pm - 01:15 pm
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)
Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging | Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation | Teleneuropsychology/Technology
Final Abstract #90
tVNS Modulates Functional Connectivity Between the Locus Coeruleus and Cortical, Subcortical Areas
Abel Pichardo, San Diego State Universty, San Diego, United States
Destin Shortell, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Brian Ho, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Mark Britton, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Alexandria ONeal, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Damon Lamb, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
John Williamson, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Eric Porges, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Category: Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation
Keyword 1: neurostimulation
Keyword 2: neuromodulation
Objective:
The locus coeruleus (LC) is the primary source of norepinephrine in the brain and has been implicated in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Thus, identifying potential interventions that can impact the LC are of great interest, as they may provide a means through which to influence norepinephrine dependent neurophysiological processes which decline in AD. The vagus is a promising target due to its afferent path through the LC. In this study, we investigate the potential of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) to modulate the functional connectivity of the LC with both cortical and subcortical brain regions.
Participants and Methods:
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging was collected while tVNS or sham stimulation was applied to the left ear of 12 healthy older adults (6 females; M age and SD = 70.25, 7.64). Functional connectivity was assessed using a seed-to-voxel analysis with a seed placed in the left LC. The left LC was identified using a probabilistic atlas of the brain stem in Montreal Neurological Institute space. The tVNS and sham groups were compared using the functional connectivity of the left LC to other brain regions. Due to the small sample size, an uncorrected voxel threshold of p < 0.05, and an FDR-corrected cluster threshold of p < 0.05 was used for the analysis.
Results:
Seed-to-voxel analysis showed differential functional connectivity in cortical and subcortical areas with the left LC when comparing the tVNS and sham group. There was increased functional connectivity to parietal lobe areas implicated in attentional control and decreased functional connectivity to subcortical limbic regions in the tVNS group.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that expected circuits related to LC function are being engaged. Future researchers should consider a larger sample size to increase statistical power. Including cognitive measures is also recommended to investigate if these differences in functional connectivity are related to cognitive performance.
| 
