Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Migraine
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with migraine? 28 human studies have investigated VNS for migraine, including 4 systematic reviews, 14 RCTs, and 3 controlled trials, published between 2014 and 2026, with 9 published since 2022. Studies use implanted (iVNS), transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS), and transcutaneous auricular (taVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
4 systematic reviews · 14 RCTs · 3 controlled trials · 2 observational studies · 4 narrative reviews · 1 case report
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 4Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 14Randomised controlled trials
- 3Controlled clinical trials
- 2Observational & cohort studies
- 4Narrative & scoping reviews
- 1Case reports & series
Stimulation Method
- 11iVNS
- 11tcVNS
- 6taVNS
Research Momentum
9 of 28 studies (32%) published since 2022.
The studies
28 studies · strongest evidence firstInternational Headache society evidence-based guidelines on the use of non-invasive neuromodulation devices for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine
Yuan et al. · Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache · 2025
systematic reviewstcVNSNoninvasive vagus nerve stimulation for migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Song et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2023
systematic reviewsiVNSAcute Treatments for Episodic Migraine in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
VanderPluym et al. · JAMA · 2021 · n = 803
systematic reviewsiVNSCervical Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Migraine and Cluster Headache: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Lai et al. · Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society · 2020 · n = 983
systematic reviewsiVNSEffects of adding transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation to vestibular rehabilitation on dizziness and postural control in vestibular migraine: a randomized clinical trial
Farahani et al. · Scientific reports · 2026
RCTstaVNSThe effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in epilepsy comorbid with migraine on the EEG power spectrum: a randomized controlled trial
Ma et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2025
RCTstaVNSThe modulation effects of repeated transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on the functional connectivity of key brainstem regions along the vagus nerve pathway in migraine patients
Huang et al. · Frontiers in molecular neuroscience · 2023 · n = 59
RCTstaVNSEvaluation of the Modulation Effects Evoked by Different Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Frequencies Along the Central Vagus Nerve Pathway in Migraine: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Sacca et al. · Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society · 2023
RCTstaVNSEffects of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation on clinical symptoms and molecular biomarkers in Parkinson's disease
Mondal et al. · Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2023
RCTsiVNSNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for prevention of migraine: The multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled PREMIUM II trial
Najib et al. · Cephalalgia · 2022 · n = 336
RCTsiVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for migraine: an fMRI study
Zhang et al. · Regional anesthesia and pain medicine · 2021 · n = 59
RCTstaVNSNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine: The multicentre, double-blind, randomised, sham-controlled PREMIUM trial
Diener et al. · Cephalalgia · 2019 · n = 477
RCTstcVNSAcute vestibular migraine treatment with noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation
Beh et al. · Neurology · 2019
RCTsiVNSNoninvasive vagus nerve stimulation as acute therapy for migraine: the randomized PRESTO study
Tassorelli et al. · Neurology · 2018 · n = 248
RCTstcVNSConsistent effects of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for the acute treatment of migraine: additional findings from the randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind PRESTO trial
Martelletti et al. · The journal of headache and pain · 2018 · n = 243
RCTsiVNSChronic migraine headache prevention with noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation: The EVENT study
Silberstein et al. · Neurology · 2016 · n = 59
RCTstcVNSNon-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation (nVNS) as mini-prophylaxis for menstrual/menstrually related migraine: an open-label study
Grazzi et al. · The journal of headache and pain · 2016 · n = 51
RCTsiVNSTreatment of chronic migraine with transcutaneous stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagal nerve (auricular t-VNS): a randomized, monocentric clinical trial
Straube et al. · The Journal of Headache and Pain · 2015 · n = 46
RCTstaVNSNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) as symptomatic treatment of migraine in young patients: a preliminary safety study
Grazzi et al. · Neurological Sciences · 2017 · n = 9
controlled trialstcVNSNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for acute treatment of high-frequency and chronic migraine: an open-label study
Barbanti et al. · The Journal of Headache and Pain · 2015 · n = 50
controlled trialstcVNSEffect of noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation on acute migraine: an open-label pilot study
Goadsby et al. · Cephalalgia · 2014 · n = 30
controlled trialstcVNSNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for the management of refractory primary chronic headaches: A real-world experience
Trimboli et al. · Cephalalgia · 2018 · n = 41
observational studiesiVNSCervical non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for preventive and acute treatment of episodic and chronic migraine and migraine-associated sleep disturbance: a prospective observational cohort study
Kinfe et al. · The Journal of Headache and Pain · 2015 · n = 20
observational studiestcVNSUpdate on Neuromodulation for Migraine and Other Primary Headache Disorders: Recent Advances and New Indications
Cocores et al. · Current pain and headache reports · 2025
narrative reviewstcVNSNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for primary headache: A clinical update
Silberstein et al. · Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache · 2020
narrative reviewsiVNSSpotlight on cervical vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of primary headache disorders: a review
Lendvai et al. · Journal of pain research · 2018
narrative reviewsiVNSTreatment Update of Chronic Migraine
Cho et al. · Current pain and headache reports · 2017
narrative reviewstcVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation and Headache
Yuan et al. · Headache · 2017
case reportstcVNS
Registered trials — results pending
2 registered protocols with no published results yet. Listed for context; not counted in the evidence total.
Evaluating brain mechanisms of combined vagus nerve stimulation and mindfulness training for migraine: A randomized 2 × 2 factorial clinical trial protocol
Schuman-Olivier et al. · 2025 · protocol
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of myoarthropatic symptoms in patients with craniomandibular dysfunction - a protocol for a randomized and controlled pilot trial
Prott et al. · 2024 · protocol