BACKGROUND Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) using non-invasive approaches have attracted great attention due to their anti-epileptic, anti-depressive and pro-cognitive effects. It has been proposed that auricular transcutaneous VNS (atVNS) could benefit intellectual disability disorders, but preclinical data supporting this idea is limited. OBJECTIVE To develop an atVNS device for mice and to test its efficacy on memory performance in naïve mice and in a mouse model for intellectual disability. METHODS Naïve outbreed CD-1 mice and a model for fragile X syndrome, the Fmr1 knockout (Fmr1KO), were used to assess the effect of atVNS in the novel object-recognition memory performance. RESULTS We found that atVNS significantly improves memory persistence in naïve mice. Notably, atVNS was efficacious in normalizing the object-recognition memory deficit in the Fmr1KO model. CONCLUSION Our data show that atVNS improves memory persistence in naïve mice and in a model of intellectual disability and support further studies taking advantage of preclinical mouse models of cognitive disorders.

中文翻译：

---

耳廓经皮迷走神经刺激可改善幼稚小鼠和智障小鼠模型的记忆持久性

背景技术使用非侵入性方法的迷走神经刺激(VNS)由于其抗癫痫、抗抑郁和促进认知的作用而引起了极大的关注。有人提出耳廓经皮 VNS (atVNS) 可以有益于智力障碍，但支持这一想法的临床前数据有限。目的 开发一种用于小鼠的 atVNS 装置，并测试其对幼稚小鼠和智力障碍小鼠模型的记忆性能的功效。方法 使用幼稚远交 CD-1 小鼠和脆性 X 综合征模型 Fmr1 敲除 (Fmr1KO) 来评估 atVNS 在新的物体识别记忆性能中的影响。结果我们发现 atVNS 显着改善了幼稚小鼠的记忆持久性。尤其，atVNS 在规范 Fmr1KO 模型中的物体识别记忆缺陷方面是有效的。结论 我们的数据表明，atVNS 可改善幼稚小鼠和智力障碍模型的记忆持久性，并支持利用认知障碍的临床前小鼠模型进行进一步研究。