Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for pain: Current findings and future directions

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Created On: 24/04/2025

This scoping review explored the range of pain conditions investigated using transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), examined the diverse methodologies and dosing strategies applied, and highlighted existing gaps in the literature.

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Key take away

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation may aid pain management. But, optimizing protocols and understanding long-term outcomes are crucial next steps.

Background

Method

A systematic literature search was performed across four databases—PubMed/Medline (n = 24), PsycInfo (n = 218), CINAHL (n = 114), and Scopus (n = 52)—yielding a total of 408 peer-reviewed publications. The search strategy incorporated MeSH terms such as “transcutaneous nerve stimulation AND vagus nerve stimulation” and “transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation OR taVNS AND pain,” with filters applied to identify clinical trials issued between 2014 and March 2024.

Result

Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently studied pain conditions in relation to taVNS efficiency encompassed chronic low back pain, episodic migraine without aura, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome. Variability was observed across studies in terms of device type, stimulation settings, dosage, and electrode placement.

Key research gaps identified the need for standardized dosing protocols, measures to assess intervention fidelity, long-term outcome evaluations, and analyses of pain-related comorbid symptoms. Additionally, further investigation is required to explore outcomes across different sociodemographic groups.

Conclusion

Emerging evidence suggests that taVNS exhibits potential as a pain management intervention. However, further research is needed to refine its therapeutic protocols, elucidate its mechanisms of action, and optimize its clinical utility.