Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Anxiety
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with anxiety? 20 human studies have investigated VNS for anxiety, including 1 systematic review, 12 RCTs, and 6 controlled trials, published between 2008 and 2025, with 17 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS), implanted (iVNS), 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.
1 systematic review · 12 RCTs · 6 controlled trials · 1 narrative review
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 1Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 12Randomised controlled trials
- 6Controlled clinical trials
- 1Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 18taVNS
- 1iVNS
- 1tcVNS
Research Momentum
17 of 20 studies (85%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
20 studies · strongest evidence firstTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for functional dyspepsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Lee et al. · Complementary therapies in medicine · 2025 · n = 716
systematic reviewstaVNSEfficacy and Safety of Electroacupuncture Through Nerve Stimulation in Patients With Anxiety Disorders: Protocol for a Randomized, Assessor-Blind, Three-Arm, Parallel-Group Clinical Trial
Jung et al. · JMIR research protocols · 2025 · n = 60
RCTstaVNSEvaluating PEMF vagus nerve stimulation through neck application: A randomized placebo study with volunteers
Jerman et al. · Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2025
RCTstcVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation to treat narcolepsy type 1 (TARGET-NT1): A two-arm, randomised, sham-controlled trial
Pan et al. · Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2025
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Myoarthropathic Symptoms Associated With Temporomandibular Disorders-A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
Prott et al. · Journal of oral rehabilitation · 2025
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Attenuates Early Increases in Heart Rate Associated With the Cold Pressor Test
Austelle et al. · Neuromodulation · 2024 · n = 24
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation improves anxiety symptoms and cortical activity during verbal fluency task in Parkinson's disease with anxiety
Zhang et al. · Journal of affective disorders · 2024
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation modulates masseter muscle activity, pain perception, and anxiety levels in university students: a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial
Ferreira et al. · Frontiers in integrative neuroscience · 2024
RCTstaVNSEfficacy of Vagal nerve stimulation on anxiety among elderly retired teachers during COVID-19 pandemic
Srinivasan et al. · Work (Reading, Mass.) · 2024
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Insomnia in People Living in Places or Cities with High Altitudes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Zhang et al. · Brain sciences · 2023
RCTstaVNSComparative Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation vs Citalopram for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Trial
Li et al. · Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society · 2022
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation reduces spontaneous but not induced negative thought intrusions in high worriers
Burger et al. · Biological Psychology · 2019 · n = 97
RCTstaVNSNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in healthy humans reduces sympathetic nerve activity
Clancy et al. · Brain Stimulation · 2014 · n = 48
RCTstaVNSOptimizing transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation parameters for sleep and autonomic function in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder with or without mild traumatic brain injury
Bottari et al. · Sleep · 2025
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation improves Long COVID symptoms in a female cohort: a pilot study
Zheng et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2024
controlled trialstaVNSThe Effects of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Functional Connectivity Within Semantic and Hippocampal Networks in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Murphy et al. · Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2023 · n = 25
controlled trialstaVNSTherapeutic effect of implanted and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation on heroin-induced anxiety
Yue et al. · Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSImpact of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on healthy cognitive and brain aging
Trifilio et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSA pilot study of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for treatment-resistant anxiety disorders
George et al. · Brain Stimulation · 2008 · n = 11
controlled trialsiVNSBrain stimulation and other biological non-pharmacological interventions in mental disorders: An umbrella review
Rosson et al. · Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews · 2022
narrative reviewstaVNS