Mood enhancement and Neural Network Modulation with Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS)?

Depression and the vagus nerve
Depression affects millions of people worldwide and constitutes a leading cause of disability. Although pharmacological interventions are available, many of them produce suboptimal outcomes due to high non-responsive rates or intolerable side effects.

It has been estimated that between 20 to 40 per cent of patients either failed to respond to conventional antidepressant therapies, or were forced to withdraw from treatment due to intolerable side effects [1]. As such, there is an urgent need to find alternative treatments.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) has been shown to enhance mood and modulate certain neural networks and as a result is a promising intervention for this area. Many studies have shown clinical benefits of VNS in depressed patients, and the FDA has granted clearance for use in treatment-resistant individuals. However, conventional VNS requires surgery and the risk of complications has limited its wider adoption.