Body of Research

Several studies investigating the use of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) for disorders tinnitus, migraine and pain show therapeutic effects similar to those produced by the more invasive direct vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). Although VNS is an FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of both depression and epilepsy, it is limited to being a second or third-line treatment option for severe, intervention-resistant cases, due to risks involved with device implantation. In contrast, tVNS is a non-invasive technique that most commonly targets the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) and the cervical branch of the vagus nerve in the neck. In this review, the authors present the current status of tVNS as a proven way to modulate the central nervous system and review stimulation parameters, stimulation sites, and available devices. The technique is safe and convenient with only a few relatively minor side effects reported, however for tVNS to reach its full potential as a non-invasive and clinically relevant therapy, it is imperative that continued systematic studies be undertaken to further understand the mechanism of action. Read the full paper at Frontiers in Neuroscience.

Reference:

Yap J, Keatch C, Lambert E, Woods W, Stoddart P, Kameneva T. Critical Review of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Challenges for Translation to Clinical Practice. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2020;14:284. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00284