[cid:image001.png@01DC64FC.260525C0] Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 9:30 - 10:20am, MJIS 1001 Students registered for the seminar are expected to attend in-person. Join Zoom Meeting https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpurdue-edu.zoom.us%2Fj%2F97438156086&data=05%7C02%7Ccdoneal%40purdue.edu%7C874d66ca8cd14e55bc8508de31c822b9%7C4130bd397c53419cb1e58758d6d63f21%7C1%7C0%7C639002932805338290%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=L%2F4JuhYv4My6D1KLJgADsPyRYJz667y3IYF%2F2XUvr7k%3D&reserved=0<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpurdue-edu.zoom.us%2Fj%2F97438156086&data=05%7C02%7Cbmeroundtable-list%40ecn.purdue.edu%7C1769e3e0fb49473677d208de333d3c1b%7C4130bd397c53419cb1e58758d6d63f21%7C1%7C0%7C639004535290254968%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3UBumyHP4FY1N0JCCIfsC2V5MU7xtXUBOGoK8pLcenU%3D&reserved=0> Meeting ID: 974 3815 6086 --- One tap mobile +13092053325,,97438156086# US +13126266799,,97438156086# US (Chicago) --- Join by SIP * 97438156086@zoomcrc.com<mailto:97438156086@zoomcrc.com> "Effects of Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Stress and Addictions" [cid:image002.jpg@01DC64FC.260525C0] J. Douglas Bremner, MD Emory University Abstract: Objective: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and opioid withdrawal are both associated with increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation (tcVNS) reduces sympathetic function and inflammation and therefore has potential to help patients with PTSD or Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Methods: Patients with PTSD and those with OUD undergoing acute opioid withdrawal were randomly assigned to receive double blind active tcVNS or sham stimulation with exposure to personalized traumatic scripts or opioid cue videos. PTSD patients underwent three months of tcVNS or sham stimulation twice daily and monthly in conjunction with a paragraph of memory encoding task. Results: tcVNS compared to sham resulted in significant reductions in sympathetic function measured with pre-ejection period (PEP) in PTSD (p<.05) and subjective opioid withdrawal (p = .047), pain (p = .045), and distress (p = .004) in OUD patients and enhanced medial prefrontal brain function in both groups. Paired tcVNS with memory encoding resulted in a 99% increase in memory recall over three months not seen with sham stimulation. Conclusions: tcVNS reduces behavioral and physiological manifestations of PTSD and opioid withdrawal and has positive effects on cognition and memory. Biography: J. Douglas Bremner, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology and Director of the Emory Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and Staff Psychiatrist at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. His research focuses on the neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and opioid use disorder, using neuroimaging and behavioral measures to understand the effects of stress on brain and physical health. Bremner's studies using MRI to show smaller hippocampal volume in PTSD and depression are among the most cited in the field. He developed widely used behavioral measures including the Early Trauma Inventory and Clinician Administered States Scale. His work on non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation led to FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for PTSD in 2022 and continues to expand to opioid use disorder and cognitive disorders. Bremner has authored more than 400 scientific articles, edited three books, and written six books. He earned his medical degree from Duke University and completed residencies in Psychiatry and Nuclear Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, where he also served as Director of the Yale Trauma Research Program before joining Emory in 2000. ~ BME Host: Matthew Ward ~ -- Bmeroundtable-list mailing list Bmeroundtable-list@ecn.purdue.edu https://engineering.purdue.edu/ECN/mailman/listinfo/bmeroundtable-list