The effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on cognitive control in multitasking

• Published in: Neuropsychologia Vol. 187; p. 108614
• Main Authors: Sommer, Aldo, Fischer, Rico, Borges, Uirassu, Laborde, Sylvain, Achtzehn, Silvia, Liepelt, Roman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 13.08.2023
• Subjects: Alpha amylase; Backward crosstalk; Cardiac vagal activity; Cognition; Dual task; Executive Function; Heart rate variability; Humans; Norepinephrine; Task integration; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation - methods; Vagus Nerve - physiology; Vagus Nerve Stimulation - methods; Backward crosstalk; Alpha amylase; Cardiac vagal activity; Norepinephrine; Heart rate variability; Dual task; Task integration
• ISSN: 0028-3932; 1873-3514; 1873-3514
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108614

Current research in brain stimulation suggests transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) as a promising tool to modulate cognitive functions in healthy populations, such as attention, memory, and executive functions. Empirical evidence in single-task contexts, suggests that taVNS promotes holistic task processing, which strengthens the integration of multiple stimulus features in task processing. However, it is unclear how taVNS might affect performance in multitasking, where the integration of multiple stimuli leads to an overlap in stimulus response translation processes, increasing the risk of between-task interference (crosstalk). In a single-blinded, sham-controlled, within-subject design, participants underwent taVNS while performing a dual task. To assess the effects of taVNS, behavioral (reaction times), physiological (heart rate variability, salivary alpha-amylase), and subjective psychological variables (e.g., arousal) were recorded over three cognitive test blocks. Our results revealed no overall significant effect of taVNS on physiological and subjective psychological variables. However, the results showed a significant increase in between-task interference under taVNS in the first test block, but not in the subsequent test blocks. Our findings therefore suggest that taVNS increased integrative processing of both tasks early during active stimulation. •taVNS enhances integrative dual-task processing.•taVNS increases between-task interference in dual tasking.•Effects of taVNS in multitasking are time-dependent.