Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of disorders of consciousness: mechanisms and applications

Likai Wang; Fei Gao; Zhan Wang; Feng Liang; Yongli Dai; Mengchun Wang; Jingyi Wu; Yaning Chen; Qinjie Yan; Litong Wang

doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1286267

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of disorders of consciousness: mechanisms and applications

Front Neurosci. 2023 Oct 18:17:1286267. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1286267. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Likai Wang¹, Fei Gao¹, Zhan Wang¹, Feng Liang², Yongli Dai¹, Mengchun Wang¹, Jingyi Wu¹, Yaning Chen¹, Qinjie Yan¹, Litong Wang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
² First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.

Abstract

This review provides an in-depth exploration of the mechanisms and applications of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in treating disorders of consciousness (DOC). Beginning with an exploration of the vagus nerve's role in modulating brain function and consciousness, we then delve into the neuroprotective potential of taVNS demonstrated in animal models. The subsequent sections assess the therapeutic impact of taVNS on human DOC, discussing the safety, tolerability, and various factors influencing the treatment response. Finally, the review identifies the current challenges in taVNS research and outlines future directions, emphasizing the need for large-scale trials, optimization of treatment parameters, and comprehensive investigation of taVNS's long-term effects and underlying mechanisms. This comprehensive overview positions taVNS as a promising and safe modality for DOC treatment, with a focus on understanding its intricate neurophysiological influence and optimizing its application in clinical settings.

Keywords: disorders of consciousness; mechanisms of action; neuroprotection; safety and tolerability; stimulation parameters; transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This project was partly supported by the Basic scientific research project of Liaoning Provincial Department of Education (LJKMZ20221292) and the Dalian Chinese Medicine Scientific Research Project (22Z12018).