Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Sleep
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with sleep? 24 human studies have investigated VNS for sleep, including 3 systematic reviews, 8 RCTs, and 9 controlled trials, published between 2017 and 2026, with 19 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 · 8 RCTs · 9 controlled trials · 3 narrative reviews · 1 case report
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 3Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 8Randomised controlled trials
- 9Controlled clinical trials
- 3Narrative & scoping reviews
- 1Case reports & series
Stimulation Method
- 23taVNS
- 1tcVNS
Research Momentum
19 of 24 studies (79%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
24 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 reviewstaVNSBrain stimulation techniques as novel treatment options for insomnia: A systematic review
Krone et al. · Journal of sleep research · 2023 · n = 967
systematic reviewstaVNSBaseline functional connectivity of the basal forebrain-cortical circuit predict taVNS treatment response in primary insomnia: a randomized controlled trial and fMRI study
Qi et al. · BMC medicine · 2025 · n = 70
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation to treat narcolepsy type 1 (TARGET-NT1): A two-arm, randomised, sham-controlled trial
Pan et al. · Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2025
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous 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
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
RCTstaVNSEffects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in individuals aged 55 years or above: potential benefits of daily stimulation
Bretherton et al. · Aging · 2019 · n = 29
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 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
Registered trials — results pending
3 registered protocols with no published results yet. Listed for context; not counted in the evidence total.
Transauricular vagus nerve electrical stimulation improves postoperative sleep disorders in elderly patients (VNstep): protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial
Wang et al. · 2026 · protocol
Neuroregulatory 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. · 2025 · protocol
Is 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. · 2024 · protocol