Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy for Epilepsy: Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Approaches
Klesta Cocoli1, Justine Curley2, Pratik Rohatgi1,3
1Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Abstract:
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) therapy is a neuromodulation technique useful for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression. This article begins by reviewing the neuroanatomy and physiology of the vagus nerve. It then delves into recent advances in our understanding of VNS's mechanism of action at different levels: how it affects different nerve fibers, how it affects neural pathways, and how it creates anti-inflammatory effects. This article then surveys research to adapt and optimize VNS, guided by an improved understanding of its mechanism of action and descriptions of its effects.
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