Author/Editor		Rozman, Janez; Pečlin, Polona; Ribarič, Samo
Title		Modulation of melatonin secretion with transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation
Translated title		Modulacija izločanja melatonina s transkutano stimulacijo avrikularnega živca
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 55, št. 6
Publication year		2021
Volume		str. 809-817
ISSN		1580-2949 - Materiali in tehnologije : Materials and technology
Language		eng
Abstract		The main study objective was to test the hypothesis that selective electrical transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation (tANS) under forenoon daylight conditions induces melatonin secretion in a 64-year-old male patient with angina pectoris, hypercholesterolomy and coronary artery disease, assuming that it has beneficial effects on accompanied insomnia (Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS) = 22 points, the total score ranges from 0 to 40). Silicone stimulation plugs, with two platinum stimulating cathodes each, were inserted into the left and right external ears. Afterwards, one-second-long pulse trains of cathodic, biphasic and current regulated stimulating pulses at stimulating charge density Cd of 50.88 μC/cm2 and frequency of 25 Hz, were delivered for 30 min to selected sites at the upper and lower part of the left and right Cymba Conchae (CC), respectively. The common anode was attached to the neck. The time gap between the pulse trains was measured by the patient using a tactile sensor and was about 250 ms. The results showed that selective tANS under forenoon daylight conditions increased melatonin saliva levels in all the trials accomplished in a patient. Precisely, the lowest increase was obtained in trials with lower right (LR) CC, while the highest increase was obtained in upper-right (UR) CC trials.
Keywords		auricular nerve stimulation insomnia avrikularni živec stimulacija nespečnost