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The selective dynamics of proactive and reactive control in GAD: A taVNS study using hierarchical drift diffusion
Shuliang Bai1, Peibing Liu2, Fangfang Long3
1Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory of Reading and Development in Children and Adolescents, Ministry of Education, and Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China.
Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience
|August 10, 2026
Summary
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) did not significantly enhance cognitive control in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder. Preliminary evidence suggests taVNS may context-dependently preserve decision caution, but findings were not robust.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Anxiety is associated with altered cognitive control, specifically reduced proactive maintenance and increased reactive engagement.
- Neuromodulation studies often assume a uniform improvement in cognitive control, which may not accurately reflect its complex nature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether acute transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) induces global or context-dependent changes in cognitive control.
- To examine the effects of taVNS on proactive and reactive control mechanisms in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder.
Main Methods:
- A within-subject, single-blind, counterbalanced study involving 31 individuals with generalized anxiety disorder.
- Participants underwent active and sham taVNS, performing the AX Continuous Performance Task to assess cognitive control.
- Analysis included conventional behavioral indices and hierarchical drift diffusion modeling.
Main Results:
- Standard behavioral measures and drift diffusion modeling revealed subtle and uncertain effects of taVNS on cognitive control.
- A non-significant trend suggested taVNS might preserve decision caution (boundary separation) in specific trial types (AY trials) compared to sham stimulation.
- Sensitivity analyses confirmed the trend but did not resolve the uncertainty surrounding the findings.
Conclusions:
- The study did not find robust evidence for taVNS enhancing cognitive control in generalized anxiety disorder.
- Limited preliminary data suggest a potential context-dependent role for taVNS in preserving decision gating, warranting further investigation.