Author Spotlight: Exploring the Effects of Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation, taVNS for short, is a safe, noninvasive stimulation technique that targets the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. Placing the electrodes at the concha of the ear as an alternative to invasive stimulation, taVNS can affect several brain functions by stimulating the vagal afferent fibers. Several studies have demonstrated promising results of taVNS.

However, there is a lack of mechanistic studies to investigate its effect on neural network and autonomic nervous system. So in this clinical trial, we are assessing taVNS in health subjects, looking for potential biomarkers such as EEG metrics and heart rate variability. With this protocol, we are proposing a bilateral stimulation that does not significantly increase the likelihood of cardiovascular events, but enhances the effect of vagus stimulation.

taVNS holds significant promise for addressing mood disorders and chronic pain conditions, among others. This study will provide insights into the safety, feasibility and general effects of taVNS on psychological processes, therefore establishing a baseline understanding of how taVNS influences neurophysiological mechanisms, fostering confidence in the techniques potential therapeutic value. Understanding the variables associated with response to taVNS can help design future clinical trials to maximize the effects of this intervention.

Based on that, our studies will be focused on how taVNS can be optimized to target specific neural pathways and treat different conditions.