Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42819499›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in neurology2026

Short-term changes in CRS-R scores during transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in prolonged disorders of consciousness: a single-arm exploratory study.

Weihang Zhai, Meng Li, Guowei Lü, Yi Yang, Fang Li, Beibei Yin, Long Xu, Jinling Zhang, Chen Xin, Guohairong Pan and 6 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

16 authors.

Weihang Zhai *Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Meng Li *Department of Trauma Surgery, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Guowei LüDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Yi YangDepartment of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Fang LiDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Beibei YinDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Long XuDepartment of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Jinling ZhangInstitute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Chen XinInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Guohairong PanInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Jingwei KongInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Xiaoli GengDepartment of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Xueling ChenDepartment of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Yifei WangInstitute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Jianghong HeDepartment of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Peijing RongInstitute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: To describe short-term behavioral changes observed during a 2-week transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) intervention in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDOC) and to exploratorily compare these changes across baseline diagnostic states. Methods: This single-center, single-arm, open-label exploratory study included 50 patients with pDOC (25 with VS/UWS, 16 with MCS-, and 9 with MCS+) who received taVNS in addition to standard care for 2 weeks. CRS-R assessments were conducted at baseline, week 1, and week 2. The primary outcome was the longitudinal change in the CRS-R total score across the three assessment time points. Results: At week 2, the mean change in CRS-R total score from baseline was 2.40 ± 2.08 points (95% CI, 1.81-2.99), with no significant difference among the diagnostic groups. Upward diagnostic transitions occurred in 9/25 (36.0%) patients with VS/UWS (VS → MCS-, Conclusion: Short-term CRS-R changes and diagnostic transitions were observed during the 2-week taVNS intervention. Because the study lacked a control group and used unblinded outcome assessment, these changes cannot be attributed specifically to taVNS. The subgroup and early-outcome analyses are exploratory and require confirmation in adequately powered, sham-controlled studies with blinded assessment and longer follow-up.

Indexed as

Consciousness DisordersTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationVagus Nerve StimulationAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTreatment OutcomeCRS-Rminimally conscious stateprolonged disorders of consciousnesstranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulationvegetative state

Identifiers

PMID42819499
PMCPMC13624169

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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.