AUTONOMIC REGULATION VIA DERMAL VIBROTACTILE TRIGGERING OF PIEZOELECTRIC CHANNELS: AN EMERGING NONMEDICATION APPROACH TO SYMPTOM RELIEF

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) maintains homeostatic balance of the body by controlling involuntary physiological functions. While the brain’s hypothalamus and brainstem are primary brain areas that control the ANS, its limbic system is involved in emotional reactions such as anxiety and excitement. Meanwhile, Piezo ion channels enable interpretation of sensory information conveyed through the Somatic Nervous System (SNS) of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) to be communicated between neurons in the brain, and also bidirectionally between the brain and the PNS. Piezo channels allow electrical current to pass through them. Haptic Vibrotactile Trigger Technology (VTT) prompts a sensory response by using electrical current-producing vibrations to stimulate the skin’s mechano-receptors and is communicated via the PNS to the brain. Recent research of VTT randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have demonstrated positive effects (e.g., the reduction of anxiety, stress, depression, improvement in sleep, pain relief, balance and stability)
Results: After use of a VTT embedded stress/anxiety patch for 14 days, the PSS score decreased 33% (21.05 to 13.95/40;P< .001), a reduction from a moderate to low stress level and a 23.8% relative increase in the percent score for the Mental Health domain in the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-20 (SF-20). In the control group, there was no meaningful change in PSS score (18.2 to 17.7/40;P=0.342), or a change in SF-20 score.
Conclusions: The bi-directional sensory communication promoted by VTT utilization may be able to boost the functioning in people with diminished functioning of their piezoelectric channels.