Brain Sciences· 2026Q2· Review
Awakening the Vagus: Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation—A Narrative Review
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- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) shows promise as a safe, non-invasive method to promote consciousness recovery in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC), particularly those in a minimally conscious state (MCS).
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique for disorders of consciousness (DoC).
- taVNS is considered safe and well-tolerated in patients.
- Preliminary evidence suggests taVNS may aid consciousness recovery, particularly in minimally conscious state (MCS) patients.
- Heterogeneity in stimulation protocols and limited large-scale trials require further standardized research.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Disorders of consciousness (DoC), including unresponsive wakefulness syndrome/vegetative state (UWS/VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS), remain a major challenge in clinical neurology. Therapeutic options are limited, and prognosis is often uncertain. Transcutaneous stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (taVNS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that has gained increasing interest as a potential strategy to promote recovery of consciousness. This narrative review summarizes the anatomical and functional rationale of taVNS, compares invasive and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation techniques, reviews the biological mechanisms underlying its effects, discusses established clinical applications, technological innovations, and available clinical trial evidence. Current data suggest that taVNS is safe and well-tolerated, with preliminary evidence of applicability in DoC, particularly in patients with MCS. However, heterogeneity in stimulation protocols and the limited number of large-scale randomized controlled trials highlight the need for further standardized research.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Brain Sciences, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Neurology (Neuroscience)
NeurologyNeuroscience