Modulating functionally-distinct vagus nerve fibers using microelectrodes and kilohertz frequency electrical stimulation

Modulation of functionally distinct nerve fibers with bioelectronic devices provides a therapeutic opportunity for various diseases. In this study, we began by developing a computational model including four major subtypes of myelinated fibers and one unmyelinated fiber. Second, we used an intrafascicular electrode to perform kHz-frequency electric stimulation to preferentially modulate a population of fibers. Our model suggests that fiber physical properties and electrode-to-fascicle distance severely impacts stimulus-response relationships. Large diameter fibers (A alpha- and A beta-) were only minimally influenced by the fascicle size and electrode location, while smaller diameter fibers (A delta-, B- and C-) indicated a stronger dependency.