Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation improves interoceptive accuracy. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Villani, V.; Tsakiris, M.; Azevedo, R.T.
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychologia. Volume 134(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Interoception -- Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation -- tvns -- Vagus -- Interoceptive accuracy; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.107201
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3932

Abstract

Abstract: How can interoceptive accuracy, i.e. the objective ability to identify interoceptive signals, be improved? In the present study, we investigated whether non-invasive stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (taVNS) modulates cardiac interoceptive accuracy, interoceptive sensibility, i.e. confidence in the identification of bodily signals, and interoceptive awareness, i.e. the capacity to evaluate one's ability in the objective task. Using a single-blind within-subjects design we compared participants' performance on the heartbeat counting task and on the heartbeat discrimination task during active and sham taVNS stimulation. Results revealed improved accuracy during active taVNS on the heartbeat discrimination task but not on the heartbeat counting task. Participants were also more confident during active stimulation, but interoceptive awareness was not modulated by taVNS. These findings show that taVNS can modulate interoceptive processing and suggest its potential as a tool to investigate body-brain interactions. Highlights: taVNS improved interoceptive accuracy in the heartbeat detection task. taVNS increased confidence in interoceptive performance but not in meta-awareness. It can be used to modulate interoceptive processing and study body-brain interactions. Abstract : The vagus nerve is a major component of the parasympathetic system and one of the most important pathways between the internal body organs and the brain. However, evidence of its role in the conscious perception of interoceptive sensations is still lacking. Here, we show that the non-invasive stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (taVNS) increases the ability to correctly identify own heartbeats. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the conscious perception of heartbeats and demonstrate the potential of taVNS as an important tool to manipulate interoceptive processing and investigate brain-body interactions.