文摘
Vagus nerve afferents can be accessed non-invasively via transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the neck. The regional brain activation elicited by the stimulation is comparable to that elicited by invasive VNS or by auricular VNS. Brainstem and forebrain regions activated by the stimulation include NTS, parabrachial area, insula, and primary sensory cortex. Deactivation was observed in the hippocampus and parahippocampus.