Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation improves memory
persistence in naïve mice and in an intellectual disability mouse model

Vázquez-Oliver, Anna; Brambilla Pisoni, Cecilia, 1993-; Domingo-Gainza, Mikel; Maldonado, Rafael, 1961-; Ivorra Cano, Antoni, 1974-; Ozaita Mintegui, Andrés, 1969-

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2019.12.024

Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation improves memory persistence in naïve mice and in an intellectual disability mouse model

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Vázquez-Oliver A, Brambilla-Pisone C, Domingo-Gainza, M, Maldonado R, Ivorra A, Ozaita A. Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation improves memory persistence in naïve mice and in an intellectual disability mouse model. Brain estimulation. 2020;13(2):494-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.12.024

Abstract

Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) using non-invasive approaches have attracted great attention due to their anti-epileptic, anti-depressive and pro-cognitive effects. It has been proposed that auricular transcutaneous VNS (atVNS) could benefit intellectual disability disorders, but preclinical data supporting this idea is limited. Objective: To develop an atVNS device for mice and to test its efficacy on memory performance in naïve mice and in a mouse model for intellectual disability. Methods: Naïve outbreed CD-1 mice and a model for fragile X syndrome, the Fmr1 knockout (Fmr1KO), were used to assess the effect of atVNS in the novel object-recognition memory performance. Results: We found that atVNS significantly improves memory persistence in naïve mice. Notably, atVNS was efficacious in normalizing the object-recognition memory deficit in the Fmr1KO model. Conclusion: Our data show that atVNS improves memory persistence in naïve mice and in a model of intellectual disability and support further studies taking advantage of preclinical mouse models of cognitive disorders.