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Cognitive Enhancement Through Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Methodological Considerations for Behavioral Studies in Rats

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Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 205))

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Abstract

Optimal cognition is maintained by a balance of excitatory and inhibitory signaling in brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Alterations in excitatory/inhibitory balance are linked to cognitive deficits in aging and a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Thus, therapeutic interventions such as electrical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), which has been shown to modulate excitability and effectively regulate seizure activity in intractable epilepsy, may have benefits for improving cognition. In both humans and rodents, VNS can enhance multiple forms of neuroplasticity and cognition, and recent work from our labs in rats has shown that VNS can reliably enhance cognitive flexibility. In this chapter, we present experimental guidelines and considerations for performing studies of VNS effects on cognition in young and aged rats. Our goal is to provide the reader with examples of specific parameters and methods for conducting such experiments.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Harvey Ramirez for his expertise and valuable input on animal care and working with aged rats. Supported by NIH RF1 AG067429 (JLB, BS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Argyle V. Bumanglag, Johleen Seedansingh, Jenna E. Franklin, Sara N. Burke & Jennifer L. Bizon

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Bonnie I. McLaurin & Barry Setlow

  3. Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Erica A. Dale

Authors
  1. Argyle V. Bumanglag
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  2. Johleen Seedansingh
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  3. Bonnie I. McLaurin
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  4. Jenna E. Franklin
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  5. Sara N. Burke
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  6. Erica A. Dale
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  7. Barry Setlow
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  8. Jennifer L. Bizon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer L. Bizon .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Institute on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Martin G. Frasch

  2. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and The Center For Cognitive Aging And Memory, University of Florida, Gainsville, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Eric C. Porges

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Bumanglag, A.V. et al. (2024). Cognitive Enhancement Through Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Methodological Considerations for Behavioral Studies in Rats. In: Frasch, M.G., Porges, E.C. (eds) Vagus Nerve Stimulation . Neuromethods, vol 205. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3465-3_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3465-3_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-3464-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-3465-3

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