Neuromodulation of heart rate variability: a systematic review
Souza R, Souza ICD, Andrade SMMDS, Ferreira MRP
Autonomic Neuroscience · 2026
Key finding
Across randomised trials, transcutaneous VNS showed no significant effect on time- or frequency-domain heart rate variability, indicating the evidence for an HRV benefit is limited and inconsistent.
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- Condition
- Heart Health
- Stimulation
- taVNS
- Evidence tier
- Systematic Review / Meta-Analysis
- Participants
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Cite this study
Souza, R., Souza, I. C. D., Andrade, S. M. M. D. S., & Ferreira, M. R. P. (2026). Neuromodulation of heart rate variability: a systematic review. Autonomic Neuroscience, 263, 103379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2026.103379
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