Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Pain
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with pain? 29 human studies have investigated VNS for pain, including 6 systematic reviews, 16 RCTs, and 5 controlled trials, published between 2020 and 2026, with 25 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.
6 systematic reviews · 16 RCTs · 5 controlled trials · 2 narrative reviews
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 6Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 16Randomised controlled trials
- 5Controlled clinical trials
- 2Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 25taVNS
- 3tcVNS
- 1iVNS
Research Momentum
25 of 29 studies (86%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
29 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 reviewstaVNSEffectiveness of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation vs heart rate variability biofeedback interventions for chronic pain conditions: A systematic review
Pellow et al. · Scandinavian journal of pain · 2025 · n = 813
systematic reviewsiVNSClinical Efficacy of Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in the Treatment of Chronic and Acute Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Duff et al. · Pain and therapy · 2024 · n = 1,496
systematic reviewstcVNS[Clinical efficacy of auricular vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of chronic and acute pain : A systematic review]
Likar et al. · Schmerz (Berlin, Germany) · 2024 · n = 1,105
systematic reviewstcVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation effects on chronic pain: systematic review and meta-analysis
Costa et al. · Pain reports · 2024
systematic reviewstaVNSEffects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on chronic low back pain: a systematic review
Eid et al. · BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024
systematic reviewstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Pectoral-Intercostal Fascial Block for the Prevention of Chronic Postsurgical Pain in Elderly Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A 2x2 Factorial, Double-Blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial
Cui et al. · Clinical Interventions in Aging · 2026 · n = 260
RCTstaVNSElectroencephalography 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
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Postpartum Contraction Pain During Elective Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Xiong et al. · JAMA network open · 2025 · n = 78
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
RCTstaVNSEffects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Individuals with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Yıldız Kızkın et al. · Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society · 2025
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Myoarthropathic Symptoms Associated With Temporomandibular Disorders-A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
Prott et al. · Journal of oral rehabilitation · 2025
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
RCTstaVNSThe effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cycling ergometry and recovery in healthy young individuals
Hatik et al. · Brain and Behavior · 2023 · n = 90
RCTstaVNSVagal nerve stimulation as a possible non-invasive treatment for chronic widespread pain in Gulf veterans with Gulf War Illness
Natelson et al. · Life Sciences · 2021 · n = 27
RCTstcVNSTranscutaneous 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
RCTstaVNSReduced vagal tone in women with adenomyosis
Zeng et al. · Reproduction & fertility · 2025 · n = 75
controlled trialstaVNS30 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 Managing Pain: A Scoping Review
Chen et al. · Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses · 2025
narrative reviewstaVNSThe anatomical basis for transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
Butt et al. · Journal of anatomy · 2020
narrative reviewstaVNS
Registered trials — results pending
5 registered protocols with no published results yet. Listed for context; not counted in the evidence total.
Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation, associated with manual vagus nerve therapy, on pain in women with fibromyalgia: study protocol for a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial
Torres et al. · 2025 · protocol
Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: study protocol for a single-centre, prospective, randomised, double-blind, controlled study
Zhang et al. · 2025 · protocol
The combined effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on pressure and heat pain thresholds in pain-free subjects: a randomized cross-over trial
Liebano et al. · 2024 · protocol
Non-Invasive Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia Symptoms: A Study Protocol
Molero-Chamizo et al. · 2022 · protocol
Trans-auricular vagus nerve stimulation to reduce perioperative pain and morbidity: protocol for a single-blind analyser-masked randomised controlled trial
Patel et al. · 2022 · protocol