Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Laboratory Administration of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS): Technique, Targeting, and Considerations
Published on: January 7, 2019
Two paths to the body's superhighway-the auricular branch (taVNS) and the cervical bundle (tcVNS): a narrative review
Peter S Staats1, Justyna Blake2
1Vagus Nerve Society, Atlantic Beach, FL, United States.
Abstract:
Interest in the vagus nerve has recently surged, particularly with the advent of non-invasive transcutaneous VNS (tVNS), which has broadened access and facilitated research across a range of conditions including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), migraine, chronic pain, and inflammatory disorders. tVNS primarily utilizes two pathways: the auricular branch (taVNS) and the cervical bundle (tcVNS). This paper provides a narrative review of tcVNS and taVNS stimulation. While both target the same cranial nerve, they differ significantly in their anatomical access points and methodological implementations.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
Arteries of the Head and Neck
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
Auditory Pathway
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...
Indirect Motor Pathways
The vestibulospinal tract originates in the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The vestibular system detects changes in...

