Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25573069›Full record

Trial reportBrain stimulation

Non-invasive Access to the Vagus Nerve Central Projections via Electrical Stimulation of the External Ear: fMRI Evidence in Humans.

Eleni Frangos, Jens Ellrich, Barry R Komisaruk

11 registry-linked trialsAbstract readClinical Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Brain stimulation. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 11 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 396 papers, 14 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
396citing papers in PubMed, 14 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT01479075 phase4completednot on this map

The Effect of Central Insulin on Insulin Sensitivity and Energy Metabolism

TypeinterventionalSponsorGerman Diabetes CenterRan2011 to 2014Enrolled30ConditionsDiabetesArmsintransal insulin, Placebo, taVNS, sham stimulation
NCT04106739 nacompletednot on this map

Auricular Percutaneous Electrical Neural Field Stimulation in Short-Term Treatment of Alcohol Dependence- Neurohaemodynamic Correlates and Feasibility Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorDyAnsys, Inc.Ran2019 to 2021Enrolled44ConditionsAlcohol Use DisorderArmsDrug Relief V(version) 2.0 Auricular Percutaneous Electrical Neural Field Stimulation (PENFS)
NCT05730049 naunknown statusnot on this map

Assessing the Efficacy of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation as an Anti-inflammatory Treatment Following Spinal Cord Injury

TypeinterventionalSponsorLondon Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph'sRan2024 to 2024Enrolled30ConditionsSpinal Cord Injuries, InflammationArmsTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
NCT05789147 nacompletednot on this map

EffecTs of tRanscutaneous vAgus Nerve Stimulation in Heart Failure Patients With Moderately rEduced or preseRved Left Ventricular Function

TypeinterventionalSponsorIstituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpARan2020 to 2024Enrolled29ConditionsHeart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction, Heart Failure With Midrange Ejection FractionArmsActive tVNS, Sham tVNS
NCT06783504 nanot yet recruitingnot on this map

Effect Of Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation (PENFS) On Symptom Control And Autonomic Nervous System Activity In Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

TypeinterventionalSponsorIndiana UniversityRan2027 to 2029Enrolled60ConditionsDiabetes, GastroparesisArmsPERCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL FIELD NERVE STIMULATION, Sham percutaneous electrical nerve field stimulation
NCT06892340 narecruitingnot on this map

A Non-Invasive, Non-Sedating Device to Mitigate Motion Sickness and Spatial Disorientation

TypeinterventionalSponsor59th Medical WingRan2025 to 2025Enrolled36ConditionsMotion SicknessArmsTranscutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation device
NCT07093034 nacompletednot on this map

Sustained Auricular Nerve Stimulation for PVC Suppression

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of California, San DiegoRan2025 to 2026Enrolled16ConditionsPremature Ventricular Complexes, PVC - Premature Ventricular Contraction, Auricular Vagus Nerve StimulationArmsExtended nocturnal use of auricular vagus nerve stimulator device
NCT07420803 narecruitingnot on this map

Efficacy Of Auricular Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation In Treating Chronic Dizziness

TypeinterventionalSponsorMayo ClinicRan2026 to 2027Enrolled60ConditionsChronic Dizziness, Persistent Postural Perceptual DizzinessArmsSham Device, Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation
NCT07526402 nanot yet recruitingnot on this map

Investigation of the Acute Effects of Different Frequency Applications of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Autonomic Physiological Responses in Healthy Individuals

TypeinterventionalSponsorSinop UniversityRan2026 to 2026Enrolled36ConditionsHealthy VolunteersArmsSham taVNS, taVNS 10 Hz, taVNS 25 Hz, taVNS 50 Hz, taVNS 100 Hz
NCT07526415 nanot yet recruitingnot on this map

Effect of Recording Duration on Heart Rate Variability During Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Crossover Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorSinop UniversityRan2026 to 2026Enrolled40ConditionsHealthy VolunteersArmsTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Sham Stimulation
NCT07532005 nanot yet recruitingnot on this map

Comparison of the Acute Effects of Non-Invasive Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Applied at Different Durations on the Autonomic Nervous System in Healthy Adults: A Sham-Controlled Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorSinop UniversityRan2026 to 2026Enrolled44ConditionsHealthy VolunteersArmsActive taVNS, Sham stimulation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

396 citing papers in PubMed, 14 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  8. Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Movement Disorders, from Principles to a Systematic Review of Evidence.Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society · 2025
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  9. Acupuncture for procedural pain in newborn infants.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
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336 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Eleni FrangosDepartment of Psychology, Rutgers University, 101 Warren St, Newark, NJ 07102, USA. Electronic address: frangos.eleni@gmail.com.
Jens EllrichCerbomed GmbH, Henkestrasse 91, 91052 Erlangen, Germany; Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7D2, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark; Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Universitaetsstrasse 17, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Barry R KomisarukDepartment of Psychology, Rutgers University, 101 Warren St, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.

Funding

R25 IMSD Minority Biomedical Research Support Program (MBRS)R25GM096161 · NIGMS · RUTGERS THE STATE UNIV OF NJ NEWARK · PI KOMISARUK, BARRY RICHARD · 2011 to 2020
$6.2M
MBRS PROGRAM AT RUTGERS-NEWARK-EQUIPMENT SUPPLEMENTR25GM060826 · NIGMS · RUTGERS THE STATE UNIV OF NJ NEWARK · PI KOMISARUK, BARRY RICHARD · 2000 to 2010
$4.8M
NIGMS NIH HHS 2R25 GM 060826NIGMS NIH HHS R25 GM060826NIGMS NIH HHS R25 GM096161
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTract-tracing studies in cats and rats demonstrated that the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) projects to the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS); it has remained unclear as to whether or not the ABVN projects to the NTS in humans.

objectiveTo ascertain whether non-invasive electrical stimulation of the cymba conchae, a region of the external ear exclusively innervated by the ABVN, activates the NTS and the "classical" central vagal projections in humans.

methodsTwelve healthy adults underwent two fMRI scans in the same session. Electrical stimulation (continuous 0.25ms pulses, 25Hz) was applied to the earlobe (control, scan #1) and left cymba conchae (scan #2). Statistical analyses were performed with FSL. Two region-of-interest analyses were performed to test the effects of cymba conchae stimulation (compared to baseline and control, earlobe, stimulation) on the central vagal projections (corrected; brainstem P < 0.01, forebrain P < 0.05), followed by a whole-brain analysis (corrected, P < 0.05).

resultsCymba conchae stimulation, compared to earlobe (control) stimulation, produced significant activation of the "classical" central vagal projections, e.g., widespread activity in the ipsilateral NTS, bilateral spinal trigeminal nucleus, dorsal raphe, locus coeruleus, and contralateral parabrachial area, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens. Bilateral activation of the paracentral lobule was also observed. Deactivations were observed bilaterally in the hippocampus and hypothalamus.

conclusionThese findings provide evidence in humans that the central projections of the ABVN are consistent with the "classical" central vagal projections and can be accessed non-invasively via the external ear.

Indexed as

AdultAgedAmygdalaBrainCerebral CortexEar, ExternalElectric StimulationFemaleHumansHypothalamusLocus CoeruleusMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedSolitary NucleusVagus NervefMRINeuromodulationNon-invasive vagus stimulationNucleus of the solitary tractt-VNSVagus nerve auricular branch

Identifiers

PMID25573069
PMCPMC4458242

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

and 5 more above

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.