Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Disorders of Consciousness
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with disorders of consciousness? 16 human studies have investigated VNS for disorders of consciousness, including 3 systematic reviews, 2 RCTs, and 6 controlled trials, published between 2008 and 2026, with 11 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS) 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 · 2 RCTs · 6 controlled trials · 4 narrative reviews · 1 case report
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 3Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 2Randomised controlled trials
- 6Controlled clinical trials
- 4Narrative & scoping reviews
- 1Case reports & series
Stimulation Method
- 9taVNS
- 7iVNS
Research Momentum
11 of 16 studies (69%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
16 studies · strongest evidence firstAn individual patient data meta-analysis on vagal nerve stimulation for recovery from disorders of consciousness
Zhang et al. · Scientific Reports · 2026 · n = 112
systematic reviewstaVNSNoninvasive neuromodulation for disorders of consciousness: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Gao et al. · Critical care (London, England) · 2025 · n = 147
systematic reviewstaVNSStimulation of vagus nerve for patients with disorders of consciousness: a systematic review
Dong et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2023
systematic reviewsiVNSTransauricular vagus nerve stimulation for patients with disorders of consciousness: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Zhou et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2023 · n = 57
RCTstaVNSThe efficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for patients with minimally conscious state: a sham-controlled randomized double-blind clinical trial
Zhou et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2023
RCTstaVNSNon-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Treatment of Disorders of Consciousness - Longitudinal Case Study
Osińska et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2022
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vague nerve stimulation improved brain connection activity on patients of disorders of consciousness: a pilot study
Yifei et al. · Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan · 2022
controlled trialstaVNSPreliminary Study of Vagus Nerve Magnetic Modulation in Patients with Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness
Wang et al. · Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment · 2022
controlled trialsiVNSCerebral Hemodynamic Correlates of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Consciousness Restoration: An Open-Label Pilot Study
Yu et al. · Frontiers in Neurology · 2021 · n = 10
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation and Disorders of Consciousness: A Hypothesis for Mechanisms of Action
Briand et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2020
controlled trialstaVNSRestoring consciousness with vagus nerve stimulation
Corazzol et al. · Current biology : CB · 2017
controlled trialsiVNSMedical and surgical treatments in disorders of consciousness
Othman et al. · Handbook of clinical neurology · 2025
narrative reviewsiVNSVagus nerve stimulation: a physical therapy with promising potential for central nervous system disorders
Wang et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2024
narrative reviewsiVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in disorders of consciousness: A mini-narrative review
Jang et al. · Medicine · 2022
narrative reviewstaVNSElectromagnetic Brain Stimulation in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness
Bourdillon et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2019
narrative reviewsiVNSAuricular syncope
Thakar et al. · The Journal of laryngology and otology · 2008
case reportsiVNS
Registered trials — results pending
5 registered protocols with no published results yet. Listed for context; not counted in the evidence total.
Electroencephalographic characteristics of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for prolonged disorders of consciousness: a study protocol
Jiao et al. · 2025 · protocol
Transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation for consciousness recovery in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (TAVREC): study protocol for a multicenter, triple-blind, randomized controlled trial in China
Zhou et al. · 2024 · protocol
The efficacy and safety of bilateral synchronous transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for prolonged disorders of consciousness: a multicenter, double-blind, stratified, randomized controlled trial protocol
Wang et al. · 2024 · protocol
Optimizing the modulation paradigm of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness: A prospective exploratory pilot study protocol
Zhai et al. · 2023 · protocol
Effects of simultaneous transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation and high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on disorders of consciousness: a study protocol
Zhuang et al. · 2023 · protocol