Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Stroke Rehabilitation
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with stroke rehabilitation? 42 human studies have investigated VNS for stroke rehabilitation, including 12 systematic reviews, 11 RCTs, and 6 controlled trials, published between 2016 and 2026, with 30 published since 2022. Studies use implanted (iVNS) 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.
12 systematic reviews · 11 RCTs · 6 controlled trials · 2 observational studies · 11 narrative reviews
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 12Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 11Randomised controlled trials
- 6Controlled clinical trials
- 2Observational & cohort studies
- 11Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 24iVNS
- 18taVNS
Research Momentum
30 of 42 studies (71%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
42 studies · strongest evidence firstEffectiveness of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Wang et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2026
systematic reviewstaVNSAdjuvant effects of vagus nerve stimulation on post-stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Zhou et al. · BMJ open · 2025 · n = 954
systematic reviewsiVNSImplantable Vagus Nerve Stimulator-Paired Neurorehabilitation for Upper Limb Function After Ischemic Stroke: Evidence From a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With Best Practice Recommendations
Khan et al. · Neurosurgery · 2025 · n = 498
systematic reviewsiVNSComplications of Implanted Vagus Nerve Stimulation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Kalagara et al. · Cerebrovascular diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025 · n = 474
systematic reviewsiVNSApplication of vagus nerve stimulation on the rehabilitation of upper limb dysfunction after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Wang et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2023 · n = 335
systematic reviewsiVNSEfficacy and Safety of Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Ananda et al. · Cerebrovascular diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023 · n = 236
systematic reviewsiVNSVagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for motor function, mental health and activities of daily living after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Gao et al. · Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry · 2023
systematic reviewstaVNSNon-invasive Brain Stimulation Techniques for the Improvement of Upper Limb Motor Function and Performance in Activities of Daily Living After Stroke: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis
Ahmed et al. · Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation · 2023
systematic reviewstaVNSEffects and safety of vagus nerve stimulation on upper limb function in patients with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abdullahi et al. · Scientific reports · 2023
systematic reviewsiVNSEffect of vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for upper limb function improvement after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Zhao et al. · International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptation · 2022 · n = 178
systematic reviewstaVNSEfficacy and Safety of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Upper Limb Motor Recovery After Stroke. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Ramos-Castaneda et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2022
systematic reviewstaVNSVagus nerve stimulation for upper limb motor impairment after ischemic stroke: A meta-analysis
Xie et al. · Medicine · 2021 · n = 234
systematic reviewstaVNSClosed-Loop Vagus Nerve Stimulation Delivered With a Miniaturized System Produces Lasting Recovery in Individuals With Chronic Stroke
Hays et al. · Stroke · 2026 · n = 19
RCTsiVNSLong-Term Outcomes of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Upper Extremity Rehabilitation After Stroke
Kimberley et al. · Stroke · 2025
RCTsiVNSVagus nerve stimulation inhibits pyroptosis and improves outcome of cerebral ischemic stroke by upregulating osteopontin (SPP1) to disturb ASC oligomerization
Wen et al. · BMC medicine · 2025
RCTsiVNSEfficacy observation of combined transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on gait in 169 subacute stroke patients
Wang et al. · Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2024
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation with task-oriented training improves upper extremity function in patients with subacute stroke: a randomized clinical trial
Wang et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2024
RCTstaVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Rehabilitation for Upper Limb Motor Impairment After Chronic Ischemic Stroke: Subgroup Analysis of the VNS-REHAB Trial
Dawson et al. · Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair · 2023 · n = 108
RCTsiVNSEffect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on post-stroke dysphagia
Wang et al. · Journal of neurology · 2023
RCTstaVNSEfficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation combined with conventional rehabilitation training in acute stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial conducted for 1 year involving 60 patients
Li et al. · Neural regeneration research · 2022 · n = 60
RCTstaVNSVagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for upper limb motor function after ischaemic stroke (VNS-REHAB): a randomised, blinded, pivotal, device trial
Dawson et al. · The Lancet · 2021 · n = 108
RCTsiVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Upper Limb Rehabilitation After Chronic Stroke: A Blinded Randomized Pilot Study
Kimberley et al. · Stroke · 2018 · n = 17
RCTsiVNSSafety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Upper-Limb Rehabilitation After Ischemic Stroke
Dawson et al. · Stroke · 2016
RCTsiVNSMotor Activated Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Potential Neuromodulation Approach for Post-Stroke Motor Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study
Badran et al. · Neurorehabilitation and neural repair · 2023 · n = 16
controlled trialstaVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Upper-Limb Rehabilitation After Stroke: 2- and 3-Year Follow-up From the Pilot Study
Francisco et al. · Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation · 2023 · n = 14
controlled trialsiVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on upper limb motor function with stroke: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy pilot study
Wang et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSEffect and Safety of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Recovery of Upper Limb Motor Function in Subacute Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Randomized Pilot Study
Wu et al. · Neural plasticity · 2020 · n = 21
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation with Concurrent Upper Limb Repetitive Task Practice for Poststroke Motor Recovery: A Pilot Study
Redgrave et al. · Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association · 2018 · n = 13
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Combined with Robotic Rehabilitation Improves Upper Limb Function after Stroke
Capone et al. · Neural plasticity · 2017 · n = 14
controlled trialstaVNSVagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for post-stroke recovery: A single center experience of patient satisfaction and outcomes
Roy et al. · Clinical neurology and neurosurgery · 2025 · n = 18
observational studiesiVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Upper-Limb Rehabilitation After Stroke: One-Year Follow-up
Dawson et al. · Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair · 2020 · n = 17
observational studiesiVNSTranscutaneous Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Changing the Paradigm for Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation Therapies?
Förster · Biomolecules · 2024
narrative reviewstaVNSNeurostimulation for treatment of post-stroke impairments
Dawson et al. · Nature reviews. Neurology · 2024
narrative reviewsiVNSA narrative review of vagus nerve stimulation in stroke
Hu et al. · Journal of central nervous system disease · 2024
narrative reviewsiVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation in Ischemic Stroke
Andalib et al. · Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2023
narrative reviewsiVNSClinical Research Progress of the Post-Stroke Upper Limb Motor Function Improvement via Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Shi et al. · Neural plasticity · 2023
narrative reviewstaVNSExploring the potential of vagus nerve stimulation in treating brain diseases: a review of immunologic benefits and neuroprotective efficacy
Jin et al. · European journal of medical research · 2023
narrative reviewsiVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in stroke: the evidence, challenges and future directions
Baig et al. · Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical · 2022
narrative reviewstaVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation for Upper Limb Function: Significant Difference, but Clinically Important?
Kwakkel et al. · Stroke · 2021
narrative reviewsiVNSTargeted Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Rehabilitation After Stroke
Engineer et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2019
narrative reviewsiVNSVagus nerve stimulation as a promising adjunctive treatment for ischemic stroke
Ma et al. · Neurochemistry international · 2019
narrative reviewsiVNSRecent advances in devices for vagus nerve stimulation
Mertens et al. · Expert review of medical devices · 2018
narrative reviewsiVNS