Microelectrode Recordings From the Vagus Nerve in Awake Humans

Description

This Anchillary project uses a refined technique of ultrasound-guided microneurography of the human cervical vagus nerve, an approach developed by Professor Vaughan Macefield and used safely to-date in 44 prior study participants. The overall goal of this project is to build upon prior data obtained using this approach by undertaking a detailed neurophysiological investigation of the human vagus nerve and to identify the nerve fibers activated during vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) in participants with implanted VNS devices in response to different stimulation parameters. In addition to providing data in unprecedented detail into the physiology of the human vagus nerve, this project will investigate different stimulus intensities, durations and frequencies that differentially excite myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers. These results will inform the CSP and guide future development of novel neural interfaces for VNS for various clinical applications.

Conditions

Epilepsy

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

This Anchillary project uses a refined technique of ultrasound-guided microneurography of the human cervical vagus nerve, an approach developed by Professor Vaughan Macefield and used safely to-date in 44 prior study participants. The overall goal of this project is to build upon prior data obtained using this approach by undertaking a detailed neurophysiological investigation of the human vagus nerve and to identify the nerve fibers activated during vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) in participants with implanted VNS devices in response to different stimulation parameters. In addition to providing data in unprecedented detail into the physiology of the human vagus nerve, this project will investigate different stimulus intensities, durations and frequencies that differentially excite myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers. These results will inform the CSP and guide future development of novel neural interfaces for VNS for various clinical applications.

Microelectrode Recordings From the Vagus Nerve in Awake Humans

Microelectrode Recordings From the Vagus Nerve in Awake Humans

Condition
Epilepsy
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Minneapolis

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * The participant is greater than or equal to (≥)18 years and is less than or equal to (≤) 40 years of age
  • * English speaking
  • * Medicare covered or equivalent health insurance from a partner country
  • * Pregnant
  • * Smokes and is unwilling to abstain from smoking on the day of the experiment.
  • * Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent.
  • * Individuals with difficulty standing unassisted for 5 minutes during the tilt-table testing
  • * Individuals found to have a significant carotid artery plaque or intima-media thickness \> 1 mm as assessed by ultrasonography during the ultrasound-screening steps of the study visit
  • * Vagus nerve not visible on ultrasound
  • * VNS electrodes are not in a suitable location to allow for microelectrode insertion
  • * Any other clinical reasons deemed by the investigators

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Minnesota,

Vaughan G Macefield, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Monash University

John Osborn, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Minnesota

Study Record Dates

2025-04-01