Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Disorders of Consciousness
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with disorders of consciousness? 22 human studies have investigated VNS for disorders of consciousness, including 3 systematic reviews, 3 RCTs, and 13 controlled trials, published between 2008 and 2026, with 15 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.
3 systematic reviews · 3 RCTs · 13 controlled trials · 1 observational study · 1 narrative review · 1 case report
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 3Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 3Randomised controlled trials
- 13Controlled clinical trials
- 1Observational & cohort studies
- 1Narrative & scoping reviews
- 1Case reports & series
Stimulation Method
- 12taVNS
- 9iVNS
- 1tcVNS
Research Momentum
15 of 22 studies (68%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
22 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 reviewstcVNSStimulation of vagus nerve for patients with disorders of consciousness: a systematic review
Dong et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2023
systematic reviewsiVNSThe 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
RCTstaVNSElectroencephalographic characteristics of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for prolonged disorders of consciousness: a study protocol
Jiao et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2025
controlled trialstaVNSMedical and surgical treatments in disorders of consciousness
Othman et al. · Handbook of clinical neurology · 2025
controlled trialsiVNSVagus nerve stimulation: a physical therapy with promising potential for central nervous system disorders
Wang et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2024
controlled trialsiVNSAdded value of corpus callosotomy following vagus nerve stimulation in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: A multicenter, multinational study
Roth et al. · Epilepsia · 2023 · n = 102
controlled trialsiVNSOptimizing the modulation paradigm of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness: A prospective exploratory pilot study protocol
Zhai et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSNon-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 trialstaVNSElectromagnetic Brain Stimulation in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness
Bourdillon et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2019
controlled trialsiVNSRestoring consciousness with vagus nerve stimulation
Corazzol et al. · Current biology : CB · 2017
controlled trialsiVNSAuricular syncope
Thakar et al. · The Journal of laryngology and otology · 2008
controlled trialsiVNSFeasibility, safety and efficacy of transauricular vagus nerve stimulation in a cohort of patients with disorders of consciousness
Noé et al. · Brain stimulation · 2020
observational studiesiVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in disorders of consciousness: A mini-narrative review
Jang et al. · Medicine · 2022
narrative reviewstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in disorders of consciousness monitored by fMRI: The first case report
Yu et al. · Brain Stimulation · 2017 · n = 1
case reportstaVNS