Vagus nerve stimulation

Vagus nerve stimulation or vagal nerve stimulation or VNS is a medical treatment that involves delivering electrical impulses to the vagus nerve via a device that is either implanted or wearable. It is sometimes referred to as a "pacemaker for the brain." The non-surgical option is transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation or t-VNS and is delivered via an electrode clipped onto the ear and attached to a portable impulse-generating device.

Currently it is mostly used as an adjunctive treatment for certain types of intractable epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression.

The vagus nerve can inhibit cytokine release and thereby prevent tissue injury and death. In research studies, stimulation of the vagus nerve prevents the damaging effects of cytokine release in experimental sepsis, endotoxemia, ischemia/reperfusion injury, hemorrhagic shock, arthritis, and other inflammatory syndromes.

Kevin J. Tracey, MD and his research group at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have shown that vagus nerve stimulation has decreased inflammation in methotrexate-resistant rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Other researchers are experimenting with vagus nerve stimulation on a host of mental health and inflammatory illnesses, including anxiety, bulimia nervosa, migraines, myocarditis, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and much more.

Media coverage

 * 2016, Electronic implant in 'Spock' nerve could reverse rheumatoid arthritis
 * 2016, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) (Health Rising, January 11)
 * 2014, Can the Nervous System Be Hacked?