Effects of Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Cardio-Respiratory Functions After Aerobic Exercise

The aim of our study is to find out whether the return rate of parasympathetic activity (PA) can be accelerated with auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (TVNS). Pulmonary function test, ANS activity, pulse and blood pressure measurements were made. Individuals ran for 15 minutes. Those in the TVNS group received 5 minutes of auricular VNS. In the control group, headphones were attached but no current was given. After the end of their procedures, they were compared with pre-exercise. In the TVNS group, the pulse parameter was higher than in the initial measurement (p=0.001). There was a significant (p=0.007) rise in the FEV1 value in the VNS group. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) index (p<0.05) increased in both groups when compared to the initial measurement, although there was no significant difference in the index values between the groups. The TVNS group showed an increase from the first measurement (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) Index between the groups (p>0.05). The groups' values for the first and second measures were equal (p>0.05), and the root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD) values did not reveal a significant difference. TVNS can improve respiratory parameters in healthy individuals in the acute period after exercise, and it seems that it can also increase activation in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic system.