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Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience pp 1–4Cite as

Peripheral Nerve Interface Applications: Vagal Nerve Stimulation

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Synonyms

Vagus nerve stimulation

Definition

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is a device-based therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy and depression. A pacemaker-like device delivers intermittent pulses of electrical energy to the left cervical vagus nerve through a self-sizing helical electrode. VNS works by modulating the central nervous system, evidenced by regional and diffuse changes in brain blood flow, metabolism, and electrical activity.

Detailed Description

Vagal Nerve Anatomy

The vagal nerves are the largest and most evolved nerves in the human body. Using acetylcholine (ACh) as a sole neurotransmitter, the vagal nerves mediate many sensory and parasympathetic functions within the autonomic nervous system. The left vagus comprises ~100,000 axons; 65–80 % are visceral afferent sensory fibers with sensory receptors located in the aorta, heart, lungs, esophagus, larynx, pharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and various visceral organs (Foley and DuBois 1937; Rutecki 1990). Vagal efferents...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Dr. Matthew Ward

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  1. Dr. Matthew Ward
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Correspondence to Matthew Ward .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Dieter Jaeger

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Ranu Jung

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Ward, M. (2014). Peripheral Nerve Interface Applications: Vagal Nerve Stimulation. In: Jaeger, D., Jung, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_209-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_209-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7320-6

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Peripheral Nerve Interface Applications, Vagal Nerve Stimulation
    Published:
    17 August 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_209-3

  2. Original

    Peripheral Nerve Interface Applications: Vagal Nerve Stimulation
    Published:
    25 March 2014

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_209-2

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