Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Cognitive Function
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with cognitive function? 26 human studies have investigated VNS for cognitive function, including 3 systematic reviews, 7 RCTs, and 15 controlled trials, published between 2014 and 2026, with 17 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS), transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS), and implanted (iVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
3 systematic reviews · 7 RCTs · 15 controlled trials · 1 narrative review
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 3Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 7Randomised controlled trials
- 15Controlled clinical trials
- 1Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 23taVNS
- 2tcVNS
- 1iVNS
Research Momentum
17 of 26 studies (65%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
26 studies · strongest evidence firstTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation may improve cognitive deficits in neuropsychiatric diseases: a systematic review
Jost et al. · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · 2026
systematic reviewstaVNSEffect of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Attention and Working Memory in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review
Aniwattanapong et al. · Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society · 2022
systematic reviewstaVNSThe Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Cognition in Healthy Individuals: A Meta-Analysis
Ridgewell et al. · Neuropsychology · 2021 · n = 718
systematic reviewstaVNSTranscutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation (tcVNS) does not enhance learning and memory performance in a visual detection task
Ravestein et al. · Scientific Reports · 2025 · n = 32
RCTstcVNSInfluence of a 2-week transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on memory: findings from a randomized placebo controlled trial in non-clinical adults
Cibulcova et al. · Clinical Autonomic Research · 2024 · n = 76
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation enhances second-language vocabulary acquisition while simultaneously mitigating fatigue and promoting focus
Miyatsu et al. · Scientific Reports · 2024 · n = 36
RCTstcVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus stimulation (taVNS) improves human working memory performance under sleep deprivation stress
Zhao et al. · Behavioural Brain Research · 2023 · n = 35
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation may enhance only specific aspects of the core executive functions: a randomized crossover trial
Borges et al. · Frontiers in Neuroscience · 2020 · n = 32
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Does Not Affect Verbal Memory Performance in Healthy Volunteers
Mertens et al. · Frontiers in psychology · 2020
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) enhances conflict-triggered adjustment of cognitive control
Fischer et al. · Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience · 2018 · n = 21
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation enhances episodic memory across valences and memory stages
Mary et al. · Brain stimulation · 2026
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Enhances Emotional Processing and Long-Term Recognition Memory: Electrophysiological Evidence Across Two Studies
Ventura-Bort et al. · Psychophysiology · 2025 · n = 89
controlled trialstaVNSImpact of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on cognitive flexibility as a function of task complexity
Mena-Chamorro et al. · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · 2025 · n = 24
controlled trialstaVNSEffects of off-line auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on a short-term memory task: a pilot study
Fisicaro et al. · Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2025 · n = 18
controlled trialstaVNSEffects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on associative memory, event-related potential P300 and P600: a single-blind pilot experiment on healthy adults
Annaka et al. · Experimental Brain Research · 2025 · n = 14
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhanced working memory in older adults with age-related hearing loss
Shin et al. · Scientific reports · 2025
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation does not modulate working memory capacity but alters pupillary responses in the change detection task
Chen et al. · Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference · 2024 · n = 16
controlled trialstaVNSDoes vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhance working memory? A behavioral and physiological investigation
Tan et al. · Brain stimulation · 2024
controlled trialstaVNSThe effect of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation on memory recall in reading: A pilot study
Thakkar et al. · Behavioural brain research · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSThe effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cognitive control in multitasking
Sommer et al. · Neuropsychologia · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSEstablishment of Emotional Memories Is Mediated by Vagal Nerve Activation: Evidence from Noninvasive taVNS
Ventura-Bort et al. · Journal of Neuroscience · 2021 · n = 37
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Improves Spatial Working Memory in Healthy Young Adults
Sun et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2021
controlled trialstaVNSVagus nerve stimulation: Surgical technique of implantation and revision and related morbidity
Giordano et al. · Epilepsia · 2017
controlled trialsiVNSVagus nerve stimulation improves working memory performance
Sun et al. · Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology · 2017
controlled trialstaVNSThe gut microbiome and the brain
Galland · Journal of medicinal food · 2014
controlled trialstaVNSVagus nerve stimulation in dementia: A scoping review of clinical and pre-clinical studies
Kamoga et al. · AIMS neuroscience · 2024
narrative reviewstaVNS