EFFECT OF AURICULAR VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION ON HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN HEALTHY

这个子项目是众多研究子项目之一

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The cholinergic anti-inflammitory pathway is a mechanism through which the autonomic nervous system, specifically the vagus nerve, regulates the host inflammatory response. In this protocol we will investigate the effect of transcutaneous stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve on vagal tone, as measured by heart rate variability. We will study the magnitude of response obtained with different stimulation location, duration, and technique, as well as the impact of circadian rhythm. This information will provide us with the optimal stimulation parameters for use in future trials looking at the effect of transcutaneous vagus stimulation on inflammatory disease.