The effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on conditioned fear extinction in humans
Burger AM, Verkuil B, Van Diest I, Van der Does W, Thayer JF, Brosschot JF
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory · 2016
Key finding
In an RCT, taVNS enhanced conditioned fear extinction in humans, consistent with a memory-consolidation mechanism.
Auto-extracted · verification pendingHow we verify
- Condition
- PTSD
- Stimulation
- taVNS
- Evidence tier
- Randomised Controlled Trial
- Participants
- 31
Share this study
Download the citation card as a PNG, or copy a link to this page.
Cite this study
Burger, A. M., Verkuil, B., Van Diest, I., Van der Does, W., Thayer, J. F., & Brosschot, J. F. (2016). The effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on conditioned fear extinction in humans. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 132, 49-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2016.05.007
Related studies in PTSD
Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation for the treatment of trauma- and stressor-related disorders: systematic review of randomised controlled studies
Benzouak et al. · BJPsych Open · 2025 · Systematic Review / Meta-Analysis
Vagus nerve stimulation in psychiatry: a systematic review of the available evidence
Cimpianu et al. · Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996) · 2017 · Systematic Review / Meta-Analysis
Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in World Trade Center Responders: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study
Debnath et al. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2026 · Randomised Controlled Trial
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Does Not Accelerate Fear Extinction
D'Agostini et al. · Psychophysiology · 2025 · Randomised Controlled Trial
Summary by Vagus Research. Always consult the primary source for the authoritative record.