Neuromodulation through non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation reduces wanting of a palatable chocolate drink
Sat-S13-003
Presented by: Lina Öztürk
Vagus nerve signals from the gut to the brain carry information about nutrients and drive food reward. Such signals are disrupted by consuming large amounts of high-calorie foods, requiring greater food intake to elicit a similar neural response. Non‐invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) via a branch innervating the ear is a neuromodulation tool that may affect food reward responses in humans.
In two experimental studies we examined if non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation changes the perception of palatable foods. Electrical stimulation was applied counterbalanced to either the cymba conchae (nVNS) or the ear lobe (sham) in separate test sessions. In study 1 participants (n=10, five women, on average 27.5 ± 4.0 years old) were asked to sample and rate flavored puddings with varying fat content concurrent with nVNS. Pudding samples were prepared with 0, 3.1, 6.9, and 15.6% fat weight by weight and sugar content was held constant between the four stimuli at 4.6% (w/w). We collected hedonic (dis)liking ratings and wanting rating of the food samples. In study 2 participants (n=14, 10 women, on average 29.4 +/- 6.7 years old) received nVNS before and after consumption of a palatable chocolate flavored milk (10% fat and 10% sugar w/w). We collected perceived pleasantness and wanting ratings of the drink. In study 1 we observed that concurrent nVNS increased liking ratings of low-fat stimuli by a meaningful amount from close to “neutral” to above “like slightly,” which is similar to the liking ratings that high fat puddings received (p = .012). In study 2 we observed that acute nVNS before consumption decreases ratings of how much participants want to consume a high-fat chocolate drink ( p = .021).
Our results suggest that tVNS can be an effective neuromodulation tool that can help to reduce desire to consume high-calorie foods and improve liking of low-fat healthier foods in the treatment of obesity.
This study is supported by TÜBİTAK under award number 118C299.
In two experimental studies we examined if non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation changes the perception of palatable foods. Electrical stimulation was applied counterbalanced to either the cymba conchae (nVNS) or the ear lobe (sham) in separate test sessions. In study 1 participants (n=10, five women, on average 27.5 ± 4.0 years old) were asked to sample and rate flavored puddings with varying fat content concurrent with nVNS. Pudding samples were prepared with 0, 3.1, 6.9, and 15.6% fat weight by weight and sugar content was held constant between the four stimuli at 4.6% (w/w). We collected hedonic (dis)liking ratings and wanting rating of the food samples. In study 2 participants (n=14, 10 women, on average 29.4 +/- 6.7 years old) received nVNS before and after consumption of a palatable chocolate flavored milk (10% fat and 10% sugar w/w). We collected perceived pleasantness and wanting ratings of the drink. In study 1 we observed that concurrent nVNS increased liking ratings of low-fat stimuli by a meaningful amount from close to “neutral” to above “like slightly,” which is similar to the liking ratings that high fat puddings received (p = .012). In study 2 we observed that acute nVNS before consumption decreases ratings of how much participants want to consume a high-fat chocolate drink ( p = .021).
Our results suggest that tVNS can be an effective neuromodulation tool that can help to reduce desire to consume high-calorie foods and improve liking of low-fat healthier foods in the treatment of obesity.
This study is supported by TÜBİTAK under award number 118C299.