Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Sleep
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with sleep? 25 human studies have investigated VNS for sleep, including 4 systematic reviews, 7 RCTs, and 10 controlled trials, published between 2017 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.
4 systematic reviews · 7 RCTs · 10 controlled trials · 3 narrative reviews · 1 case report
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 4Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 7Randomised controlled trials
- 10Controlled clinical trials
- 3Narrative & scoping reviews
- 1Case reports & series
Stimulation Method
- 24taVNS
- 1tcVNS
Research Momentum
21 of 25 studies (84%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
25 studies · strongest evidence firstTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
De Oliveira et al. · Neuromodulation · 2025 · n = 336
systematic reviewstaVNSThe Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Sleep Quality in Insomnia: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Hasani et al. · Current Sleep Medicine Reports · 2025
systematic reviewstaVNSIs transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation effective and safe for primary insomnia? A PRISMA-compliant protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Yang et al. · PloS one · 2024
systematic reviewstaVNSBrain stimulation techniques as novel treatment options for insomnia: A systematic review
Krone et al. · Journal of sleep research · 2023 · n = 967
systematic reviewstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) improves sleep quality in chronic insomnia disorder: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial
Yeom et al. · Sleep medicine · 2025
RCTstaVNSNeuroregulatory and clinical efficacy of auricular vagus nerve stimulation in elderly patients with chronic insomnia comorbid with functional dyspepsia: protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Zhou et al. · Frontiers in medicine · 2025
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for chronic insomnia disorder: a randomized clinical trial
Zhang et al. · JAMA Network Open · 2024 · n = 72
RCTstaVNSEfficacy of transauricular vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced painful peripheral neuropathy: a randomized controlled exploratory study
Yang et al. · Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2024
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation could improve the effective rate on the quality of sleep in the treatment of primary insomnia: a randomized control trial
Wu et al. · Brain Sciences · 2022 · n = 30
RCTstaVNSEffect of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation at Auricular Concha for Insomnia: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Jiao et al. · Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · 2020 · n = 72
RCTstaVNSPredicting treatment response to transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in patients with insomnia: resting-state functional connectivity based multivoxel pattern analysis
Qi et al. · BMC psychiatry · 2026
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in breast cancer: a neuroimmune model to improve quality of life
Do et al. · Frontiers in oncology · 2026
controlled trialstaVNSBilateral transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of insomnia in breast cancer
Do et al. · Scientific Reports · 2025 · n = 20
controlled trialstaVNSEffect of vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on anxiety and sleep disturbances among elderly health care workers in the post COVID-19 pandemic
Srinivasan et al. · Work (Reading, Mass.) · 2024
controlled trialstaVNSCombined transcutaneous auricular vagus stimulation (taVNS) with 0.1Hz slow breathing enhances insomnia treatment efficacy: A pilot study
Tian et al. · Brain stimulation · 2024
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Modulates the Prefrontal Cortex in Chronic Insomnia Patients: fMRI Study in the First Session
He et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2022
controlled trialstaVNS[Modulation of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on default mode network in patients with primary insomnia]
Zhang et al. · Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion · 2022
controlled trialstaVNSEffect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Protracted Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms in Male Alcohol-Dependent Patients
Wang et al. · Frontiers in psychiatry · 2021 · n = 114
controlled trialstaVNSEffects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on brain functional connectivity of medial prefrontal cortex in patients with primary insomnia
Zhang et al. · Anatomical Record · 2021
controlled trialstaVNS[Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for primary insomnia and affective disorder:a report of 35 cases]
Luo et al. · Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion · 2017
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) for Insomnia Disorder: A Narrative Review of Effectiveness, Mechanisms and Recommendations for Clinical Practice
Liu et al. · Nature and science of sleep · 2025
narrative reviewstaVNSThe Latest Advances in Non-Invasive Neurostimulation for Insomnia: A Review
Liu et al. · Nature and science of sleep · 2025
narrative reviewstcVNSSynergistic acupuncture and neuromodulation for chronic insomnia: a structured narrative review with systematic search and future directions
Meng et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2025
narrative reviewstaVNSEffect of long-term transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in multiple system atrophy-cerebellar subtype: a case report
Wang et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2024
case reportstaVNS