Stress reduction in humans through skin-based manipulation of noradrenaline activity in the nervous system
In a groundbreaking study, researchers have explored the effects of Transdermal Electrical Neurosignaling (TEN), a form of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, on the body's stress response. TEN, which primarily targets peripheral sensory nerves using electrical pulses delivered through the skin, has shown potential in reducing tension, anxiety, and stress responses.
The study, published in the Journal of Neurophysiology, reveals that TEN can affect sympathetic physiology by enhancing afferent sensory input, which in turn modulates central autonomic circuits responsible for stress responses. This modulation likely includes an influence on noradrenergic signaling pathways, contributing to reduced sympathetic overactivity and stress-related symptomatology.
TEN stimulates large sensory afferents, increasing afferent excitability. This stimulation can modulate sensorimotor and autonomic brain regions, reducing cortical demand and possibly sympathetic tone. The study provides evidence that TEN modulates noradrenergic signaling to suppress sympathetic activity.
Under experimental stress conditions, TEN produces a significant suppression of heart rate variability, galvanic skin conductance, and salivary α-amylase levels compared to sham. In another experiment, subjects treated with TEN reported significantly lower levels of tension and anxiety on the Profile of Mood States scale compared to sham.
Functional infrared thermography of facial temperatures indicates that TEN significantly suppresses basal sympathetic tone compared to sham, under resting conditions. The TEN method, when delivered to the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the right trigeminal nerve and cervical spinal nerve afferents, significantly suppresses basal sympathetic tone under resting conditions compared to sham.
The study's findings collectively suggest that TEN may have therapeutic potential for the management of stress-related disorders. The researchers engineered a transdermal neuromodulation approach that targets peripheral nerves and influences brain function. The study provides a basis for further research into the potential of TEN as a non-invasive, neurostimulation-based approach for stress management.
In conclusion, the study demonstrates that TEN can dampen basal sympathetic tone and attenuate sympathetic activity in response to acute stress induction. The study's results imply that TEN represents a promising approach for managing daily stress, potentially reducing tension, anxiety, and stress responses in experimental conditions.
- It appears that TEN, as a neurostimulation method, could expand into the field of health-and-wellness, exploring its potential benefits on mental-health, particularly in therapies-and-treatments for stress-related disorders.
- In light of the study's findings, eye tracking, which assesses responses such as tension and anxiety, could be a valuable tool in evaluating the effectiveness of TEN in modulating mental health and stress responses.
