Characterization of the cardiac response to vagal nerve stimulation

The heart is strongly innervated by the Autonomic Nervous System and the vagus nerve has a very powerful control on the cardiac performance. Electrical stimulation of the X nerve offers some degree of control over the heart rate and may have beneficial effects after a Myocardial Infarction. In this paper, results of Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS) in two animal experiments are presented. Many different combinations of VNS parameters were studied, in order to improve our understanding on the cardiac effects of VNS, particularly when used in combination with an external closed loop control system. The major findings are the evidence of significant changes in the VNS effect on intact or severed nerves and the similarity of the results but difference of side-effects obtained through two very different types of electrodes.