DNA Methylation: A Potential Mediator of the Memory Regulatory Effects of taVNS

Pak On Patrick Yee; Ka Chun Tsui; Man Lung Fung; Boon Chin Heng; Ersoy Kocabicak; Ali Jahanshahi; Yasin Temel; Arjan Blokland; Luca Aquili; Allan Kalueff; Kah Hui Wong; Lee Wei Lim

doi:10.3390/cells14171327

DNA Methylation: A Potential Mediator of the Memory Regulatory Effects of taVNS

Pak On Patrick Yee, Ka Chun Tsui, Man Lung Fung, Boon Chin Heng, Ersoy Kocabicak, Ali Jahanshahi, Yasin Temel, Arjan Blokland, Luca Aquili, Allan Kalueff, Kah Hui Wong, Lee Wei Lim^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), an emerging noninvasive neuromodulation technique, has shown promise for improving memory. A better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the effects of taVNS would inform the molecular outcomes essential for memory and cognition. In this review, we synthesize the current literature on the neurophysiological and biochemical basis of taVNS. Next, we explore how DNA methylation regulators (e.g., DNA methyltransferase 3a) and readers (e.g., methyl-CpG binding protein 2) differentially regulate memory, and how their activity and expression can be regulated by neuronal activity. Finally, we describe the potential involvement of DNA methylation in mediating the memory regulatory effects of taVNS and discuss possible directions for future studies.

Original language	English
Article number	1327
Journal	Cells
Volume	14
Issue number	17
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14171327
Publication status	Published - Sept 2025

Keywords

cognitive impairment
DNA methylation
memory
neuronal activity
transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

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10.3390/cells14171327

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title = "DNA Methylation: A Potential Mediator of the Memory Regulatory Effects of taVNS",

abstract = "Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), an emerging noninvasive neuromodulation technique, has shown promise for improving memory. A better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the effects of taVNS would inform the molecular outcomes essential for memory and cognition. In this review, we synthesize the current literature on the neurophysiological and biochemical basis of taVNS. Next, we explore how DNA methylation regulators (e.g., DNA methyltransferase 3a) and readers (e.g., methyl-CpG binding protein 2) differentially regulate memory, and how their activity and expression can be regulated by neuronal activity. Finally, we describe the potential involvement of DNA methylation in mediating the memory regulatory effects of taVNS and discuss possible directions for future studies.",

keywords = "cognitive impairment, DNA methylation, memory, neuronal activity, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation",

author = "Yee, \{Pak On Patrick\} and Tsui, \{Ka Chun\} and Fung, \{Man Lung\} and Heng, \{Boon Chin\} and Ersoy Kocabicak and Ali Jahanshahi and Yasin Temel and Arjan Blokland and Luca Aquili and Allan Kalueff and Wong, \{Kah Hui\} and Lim, \{Lee Wei\}",

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year = "2025",

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doi = "10.3390/cells14171327",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Cells",

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AU - Yee, Pak On Patrick

AU - Tsui, Ka Chun

AU - Fung, Man Lung

AU - Heng, Boon Chin

AU - Kocabicak, Ersoy

AU - Jahanshahi, Ali

AU - Temel, Yasin

AU - Blokland, Arjan

AU - Aquili, Luca

AU - Kalueff, Allan

AU - Wong, Kah Hui

AU - Lim, Lee Wei

PY - 2025/9

Y1 - 2025/9

N2 - Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), an emerging noninvasive neuromodulation technique, has shown promise for improving memory. A better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the effects of taVNS would inform the molecular outcomes essential for memory and cognition. In this review, we synthesize the current literature on the neurophysiological and biochemical basis of taVNS. Next, we explore how DNA methylation regulators (e.g., DNA methyltransferase 3a) and readers (e.g., methyl-CpG binding protein 2) differentially regulate memory, and how their activity and expression can be regulated by neuronal activity. Finally, we describe the potential involvement of DNA methylation in mediating the memory regulatory effects of taVNS and discuss possible directions for future studies.

AB - Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), an emerging noninvasive neuromodulation technique, has shown promise for improving memory. A better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the effects of taVNS would inform the molecular outcomes essential for memory and cognition. In this review, we synthesize the current literature on the neurophysiological and biochemical basis of taVNS. Next, we explore how DNA methylation regulators (e.g., DNA methyltransferase 3a) and readers (e.g., methyl-CpG binding protein 2) differentially regulate memory, and how their activity and expression can be regulated by neuronal activity. Finally, we describe the potential involvement of DNA methylation in mediating the memory regulatory effects of taVNS and discuss possible directions for future studies.

KW - cognitive impairment

KW - DNA methylation

KW - memory

KW - neuronal activity

KW - transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105015894688

U2 - 10.3390/cells14171327

DO - 10.3390/cells14171327

M3 - Review article

C2 - 40940739

AN - SCOPUS:105015894688

SN - 2073-4409

VL - 14

JO - Cells

JF - Cells

IS - 17

M1 - 1327

ER -

DNA Methylation: A Potential Mediator of the Memory Regulatory Effects of taVNS

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Keywords

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