# Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) enhances motor learning through temporally-precise cholinergic neuromodulation

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2021 · $34,288

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Neurological injuries, including those from stroke and TBI, are highly prevalent in the US with millions of cases
reported annually and often result in lasting debilitation. Recent studies have found that vagus nerve
stimulation (VNS), which involves electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve with an implanted electrode, may to
facilitate motor rehabilitation from neurological injury through mechanisms of enhanced plasticity. However,
little is known about mechanisms that underly VNS-driven plasticity and motor learning. Previous reports have
shown that motor cortex neural activity is altered during motor learning and that lesion of cholinergic systems
can prevent motor learning and VNS-enhanced cortical map plasticity. But how VNS modulates motor circuits,
and the role cholinergic signaling plays in mediating VNS effects remains poorly studied. This work aims to
understand the neural mechanism that underly VNS-enhanced plasticity and motor learning. To address this
gap in knowledge, I am proposing to manipulate learning of a skilled reach task with VNS and optogenetic
cholinergic manipulation. Using recent advancements in deep learning algorithms I will record 3D reach
trajectory to quantify the behavioral impact VNS and cholinergic manipulation have on skilled reaching. I also
propose to chronically implanted in vivo optetrode arrays to record single-unit neural activity from the BF to
determine if VNS alters BF activity directly. Lastly, I propose use cell-type specific calcium imaging in the motor
cortex, to determine if VNS activates cortical inhibitory microcircuits.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10313783
- **Project number:** 1F31NS120739-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Spencer Bowles
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $34,288
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10313783

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10313783, Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) enhances motor learning through temporally-precise cholinergic neuromodulation (1F31NS120739-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10313783. Licensed CC0.

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