Vagus Nerve Stimulation After Training Improves Skill Retention

A Secret Window for Memory

According to НВ — Техно: Neuroscientists have studied that vagus nerve stimulation accelerates skill retention.

September 7, 10:36 AM

Researchers from Tohoku University found that vagus nerve stimulation immediately after training enhances long-term motor learning in mice. This discovery could have significant implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying the consolidation of physical skills. In the experiment, scientists used a microscopic electrode attached to the cervical vagus nerve of mice while training the animals to follow moving stripes. The electrical stimulation was applied only after the training session, allowing for an assessment of its effect on skill longevity.

According to the study's results, during the actual exercises, the mice with stimulation did not show advantages. However, on the fifth day, the rodents that received the stimulation exhibited significantly higher accuracy and skill retention. The researchers recorded a biphasic vascular response in the cerebellum, where initially the blood volume briefly decreased and then gradually increased, creating rhythmic pulsations. The stronger the vascular fluctuations in the brain tissue, the better results the animals demonstrated after a few days.

The key point is that stimulation was applied only after training. The vagus nerve makes the brain environment more receptive to long-term changes.

Professor Ko Matsui

At the same time, Junyu Chen emphasized that 'our brain is under much stronger influence from the body than we tend to think. By adjusting the metabolic environment and vascular rhythms, we can unlock the hidden cognitive abilities of the organism.'

The findings of this research were published in the journal iScience (DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.117413) and open new perspectives in understanding the mechanisms of learning and memory.

This study may represent an important step toward the development of new training and rehabilitation methods, particularly for individuals suffering from neurological disorders or injuries. Understanding the interplay between physical and cognitive aspects of learning may lead to the improvement of existing approaches in neurorehabilitation and the creation of new therapeutic strategies.