AUTHOR=Lehnertz Hendrik , Broehl Timo , Rings Thorsten , von Wrede Randi , Lehnertz Klaus TITLE=Modifying functional brain networks in focal epilepsy by manual visceral-osteopathic stimulation of the vagus nerve at the abdomen JOURNAL=Frontiers in Network Physiology VOLUME=3 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/network-physiology/articles/10.3389/fnetp.2023.1205476 DOI=10.3389/fnetp.2023.1205476 ISSN=2674-0109 ABSTRACT=

Non-invasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation elicits similar therapeutic effects as invasive vagus nerve stimulation, offering a potential treatment alternative for a wide range of diseases, including epilepsy. Here, we present a novel, non-invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve, which is performed manually viscero-osteopathically on the abdomen (voVNS). We explore the impact of short-term voVNS on various local and global characteristics of EEG-derived, large-scale evolving functional brain networks from a group of 20 subjects with and without epilepsy. We observe differential voVNS-mediated alterations of these characteristics that can be interpreted as a reconfiguration and modification of networks and their stability and robustness properties. Clearly, future studies are necessary to assess the impact of such a non-pharmaceutical intervention on clinical decision-making in the treatment of epilepsy. However, our findings may add to the current discussion on the importance of the gut-brain axis in health and disease.

Clinical Trial Registration: https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00029914, identifier DRKS00029914