Vagus nerve stimulation after practice improves long term motor learning in mice

Stimulating the vagus nerve in mice immediately after practice sessions helped them establish stronger long-term motor learning, ScienceDaily reported. The finding suggests that there is a critical post-practice window during which the brain consolidates new physical skills. [1]

Researchers linked the improved learning performance to rhythmic changes in brain blood vessels. According to ScienceDaily, these findings indicate that physiological signals travelling from the body to the brain may prepare neural circuits for lasting adaptative changes. [1]

The vagus nerve, also designated as the tenth cranial nerve, serves as a primary pathway within the parasympathetic nervous system. It carries sensory and motor nerve fibres between the brain and internal organs, including the heart, lungs, and digestive tract, to regulate involuntary functions. [2]

ScienceDaily reported that the research could help explain why certain skills are acquired quickly while others require extended practice. Understanding how post-activity brain states influence skill retention may aid future studies into post-exercise cognitive and motor training. [1]