Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Pain
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with pain? 24 human studies have investigated VNS for pain, including 3 systematic reviews, 15 RCTs, and 6 controlled trials, published between 2020 and 2026, with 21 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS) 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 · 15 RCTs · 6 controlled trials
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 3Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 15Randomised controlled trials
- 6Controlled clinical trials
Stimulation Method
- 22taVNS
- 2tcVNS
Research Momentum
21 of 24 studies (88%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
24 studies · strongest evidence firstThe Effect of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Pain Severity Scores in Patients With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis
Buchman et al. · Cureus · 2026
systematic reviewstaVNSInternational 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 reviewstcVNSEffects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on chronic low back pain: a systematic review
Eid et al. · BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024
systematic reviewstaVNSElectroencephalography Microstates Reveal Variability in Efficacy of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Primary Dysmenorrhea
Wang et al. · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2026 · n = 60
RCTstaVNSEffectiveness of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Alleviating Postoperative Pain Following Thoracoscopic Lobectomy: A Participant- and Assessor-blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial
Zhang et al. · The Clinical journal of pain · 2025 · n = 67
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular nerve stimulation modulates the functional connectivity of the descending pain modulation system and reward network in patients with chronic low back pain
Li et al. · Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2025 · n = 51
RCTstaVNSThe effect of auricular vagus nerve stimulation in women with temporomandibular joint disorders: a randomized controlled study
Percin et al. · Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira · 2025 · n = 50
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation as a pain modulator in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Elsehrawy et al. · BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025
RCTstaVNSThe effects of non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on resting-state delta oscillation: a randomized, double-blinded, sham-control trial
Camargo et al. · Scientific reports · 2025
RCTstaVNSImpact of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on postoperative pain in patients undergoing perianal surgery: a randomized trial
Yin et al. · Annals of medicine · 2025
RCTstaVNSTransauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) enhances Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) in healthy subjects: A randomized controlled trial
Pacheco-Barrios et al. · Brain Stimulation · 2024 · n = 44
RCTstaVNSNon-Invasive Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia Symptoms: A Study Protocol
Molero-Chamizo et al. · Brain sciences · 2022
RCTstaVNSTrans-auricular vagus nerve stimulation to reduce perioperative pain and morbidity: protocol for a single-blind analyser-masked randomised controlled trial
Patel et al. · BJA open · 2022
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation reduces pain and fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot trial
Aranow et al. · Annals of the rheumatic diseases · 2021
RCTstaVNSThe Impact of Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Pain and Life Quality in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Kutlu et al. · BioMed Research International · 2020 · n = 60
RCTstaVNS30 Hz Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Alleviates Abdominal Pain by Modulating EEG Activity in the alpha Frequency Band of the Brain
Huang et al. · CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics · 2025 · n = 52
controlled trialstaVNSSafety and preliminary efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on chronic knee pain: A pilot trial
Aoyagi et al. · Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open · 2025 · n = 30
controlled trialstaVNSEffect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study
Tavares-Figueiredo et al. · Journal of clinical medicine · 2024 · n = 27
controlled trialstaVNSEffect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Conditioned Pain Modulation in Trigeminal Neuralgia Patients
Zhang et al. · Pain and therapy · 2024
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: A pilot study
Wang et al. · Brain stimulation · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSThe anatomical basis for transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
Butt et al. · Journal of anatomy · 2020
controlled trialstaVNS