The vagus nerve drives cognitive function through the default mode network
- 1Tohoku University
Abstract
The afferent vagus nerve transmits interoceptive signals to the brain but a systematic understanding of how vagal signals affect brain-wide neuronal dynamics remains elusive. Here, comprehensive spatiotemporal analyses across the entire mouse brain revealed that vagus nerve stimulation activated neuronal ensembles within the default mode network (DMN). In contrast, vagal-independent mechanisms predominantly affected the salience network. The vagal-DMN association was mediated by locus coeruleus neuronal subpopulations. Selective activation or silencing of vagal-responsive DMN neuronal ensembles replicated or abolished VNS-induced enhancement of cognitive behaviors and progressive problem-solving behaviors. These findings establish a unifying framework for how the vagus nerve drives cognitive functions by engaging the DMN.
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BibTeX
@misc{yamakawa2026vagus,
title = {{The vagus nerve drives cognitive function through the default mode network}},
author = {M. Yamakawa and T. Togashi and H. Kawagoe and R. Shiratori and F. Fukushima and T. Urushihata and Z. Xie and T. Kayama and G. Ikeda and W. Xue and T. Xiaoying and S. Kawaoka and W. Hongbo and M. Maekawa and Y. Owada and K. Seiriki and H. Hashimoto and A. Konno and H. Hirai and Y. Tsuneoka and A. Satoh and H. Igarashi and Y. Iwasaki and N. Arimura and N. Kuga and T. Sasaki},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.08.757463},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.08.757463v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - The vagus nerve drives cognitive function through the default mode network
AU - M. Yamakawa
AU - T. Togashi
AU - H. Kawagoe
AU - R. Shiratori
AU - F. Fukushima
AU - T. Urushihata
AU - Z. Xie
AU - T. Kayama
AU - G. Ikeda
AU - W. Xue
AU - T. Xiaoying
AU - S. Kawaoka
AU - W. Hongbo
AU - M. Maekawa
AU - Y. Owada
AU - K. Seiriki
AU - H. Hashimoto
AU - A. Konno
AU - H. Hirai
AU - Y. Tsuneoka
AU - A. Satoh
AU - H. Igarashi
AU - Y. Iwasaki
AU - N. Arimura
AU - N. Kuga
AU - T. Sasaki
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.08.757463
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.08.757463v1
AB - The afferent vagus nerve transmits interoceptive signals to the brain but a systematic understanding of how vagal signals affect brain-wide neuronal dynamics remains elusive. Here, comprehensive spatiotemporal analyses across the entire mouse brain revealed that vagus nerve stimulation activated neuronal ensembles within the default mode network (DMN). In contrast, vagal-independent mechanisms predominantly affected the salience network. The vagal-DMN association was mediated by locus coeruleus neuronal subpopulations. Selective activation or silencing of vagal-responsive DMN neuronal ensembles replicated or abolished VNS-induced enhancement of cognitive behaviors and progressive problem-solving behaviors. These findings establish a unifying framework for how the vagus nerve drives cognitive functions by engaging the DMN.
ER -