Data and code from: Burst-patterned stimulation restores colonic motility

<strong>*Data embargoed until publication of related article, or up to no more than 1 year from data upload.*</strong>

Disrupted communication along the brain-gut axis contributes to impaired visceral function and debilitating symptoms. Colonic dysmotility in particular remains poorly managed by conventional pharmaceuticals. The objective of our study was to restore colonic motility by electrical stimulation of the sacral nerves, optimize the stimulation pattern to relieve constipation, and elucidate the mechanisms of motor patterns evoked by stimulation. Through a combination of computational, ex vivo, and anesthetized and awake in vivo models, we evoked propulsive, prokinetic motility by burst-patterned sacral nerve stimulation and relieved constipation in awake, behaving rats. Further, we systematically varied stimulation frequency, stimulation duration, and interburst interval, and determined the minimum effective parameters to maximize anorectal contractions. We demonstrated that a precise temporal pattern of sacral nerve stimulation relieves constipation in rats, establishing pre-clinical evidence and the foundational principles for future pilot clinical trials.