Vagus Nerve Stimulation Enhances Stable Plasticity and Generalization of Stroke Recovery

Background and Purpose— Chronic impairment of the arm and hand is a common consequence of stroke. Animal and human studies indicate that brief bursts of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in conjunction with rehabilitative training improve recovery of motor function after stroke. In this study, we tested whether VNS could promote generalization, long-lasting recovery, and structural plasticity in motor networks. Methods— Rats were trained on a fully...