Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for ADHD
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with adhd? 7 human studies have investigated VNS for adhd, including 5 controlled trials and 2 case reports, published between 2005 and 2025, with 3 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS) and transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
5 controlled trials · 2 case reports
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 5Controlled clinical trials
- 2Case reports & series
Stimulation Method
- 6taVNS
- 1tcVNS
Research Momentum
3 of 7 studies (43%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
7 studies · strongest evidence firstTowards optimizing target engagement in non-invasive trigeminal nerve stimulation: anatomical characterization of the human trigeminal nerve
Perrault et al. · Journal of neural engineering · 2025
controlled trialstcVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation as a potential therapy for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: modulation of the noradrenergic pathway in the prefrontal lobe
Zhi et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2024
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A viable option?
Zaehle et al. · Progress in brain research · 2021
controlled trialstaVNSEpilepsy Disorders and Treatment Modalities
Kaeberle · NASN school nurse (Print) · 2018
controlled trialstaVNSEmerging brain-based interventions for children and adolescents: overview and clinical perspective
Hirshberg et al. · Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America · 2005
controlled trialstaVNSA Clinical and Genetic Evaluation of Cases with Folate Receptor α Gene Mutation: A Case Series from Türkiye
Akgun et al. · Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
case reportstaVNS["Seasonal" hyperkinetic disorder in adolescence: Improvement of symptomatology caused by additional light therapy]
Niederhofer · Psychiatria Danubina · 2006
case reportstaVNS