A review of functional neuroimaging studies of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a new method for preventing and treating seizures, and shows promise as a potential new antidepressant. The mechanisms of action of VNS are still unknown, although the afferent direct and secondary connections of the vagus nerve are well established and are the most likely route of VNS brain effects. Over the past several years, many groups have used functional brain imaging to better understand VNS effects on the brain. Since these studies differ somewhat in their methodologies, findings and conclusions, at first glance, this literature may appear inconsistent. Although disagreement exists regarding the specific locations and the direction of brain activation, the differences across studies are largely due to different methods, and the results are not entirely inconsistent. We provide an overview of these functional imaging studies of VNS. PET (positron emission tomography) and SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) studies have implicated several brain areas affected by VNS, without being able to define the key structures consistently and immediately activated by VNS. BOLD (blood oxygen level dependent) fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), with its relatively high spatio-temporal resolution, performed during VNS, can reveal the location and level of the brain's immediate response to VNS. As a whole, these studies demonstrate that VNS causes immediate and longer-term changes in brain regions with vagus innervations and which have been implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders. These include the thalamus, cerebellum, orbitofrontal cortex, limbic system, hypothalamus, and medulla. Functional neuroimaging studies have the potential to provide greater insight into the brain circuitry behind the activity of VNS.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Functional neuroimaging studies have confirmed that VNS alters the activity of many cortical and subcortical regions.
“Functional neuroimaging studies have confirmed that VNS alters the activity of many cortical and subcortical regions (81).”
From Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain–Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders (2018) · cites this paper as [81]
Cites
Parallel organization of functionally segregated circuits linking basal ganglia and cortex
Alexander, G. E., DeLong, M. R., & Strick, P. L. (1986) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.ne.09.030186.002041 · Cited by 8,527 · see citing works
Thalamocortical oscillations in the sleeping and aroused brain
Steriade, M., McCormick, D. A., & Sejnowski, T. J. (1993) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.8235588 · Cited by 3,564 · see citing works
Limbic-cortical dysregulation: a proposed model of depression
(1997) · The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences · doi:10.1176/jnp.9.3.471 · Cited by 1,585 · see citing works
Neuroimaging studies of mood disorders
Drevets, W. C. (2000) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(00)01020-9 · Cited by 1,313 · see citing works
The triune brain in evolution: Role in paleocerebral functions
Legg, C. R. (1990) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/0301-0511(90)90083-9 · Cited by 981 · see citing works
(1990) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 919 · see citing works
(2002) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-693019-1.x5000-x · Cited by 713 · see citing works
Rush, A. J., George, M. S., Sackeïm, H. A., Marangell, L. B., Husain, M. M., Giller, C. A., Nahas, Z. H., Haines, S. J., Simpson, R. K., & Goodman, R. (2000) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00304-2 · Cited by 693 · see citing works
Self-citationSackeim, H. (2001) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1016/s0893-133x(01)00271-8 · Cited by 568 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation: a new tool for brain research and therapy
George, M. S., Sackeim, H. A., Rush, A. J., Marangell, L. B., Nahas, Z., Husain, M. M., Lisanby, S., Burt, T., Goldman, J., & Ballenger, J. C. (2000) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00308-x · Cited by 461 · see citing works
Self-citationKuhl, D. E., Engel, J., Phelps, M. E., & Selin, C. E. (1980) · Annals of Neurology · doi:10.1002/ana.410080403 · Cited by 416 · see citing works
Therapeutic mechanisms of vagus nerve stimulation
Henry, T. R. (2002) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.59.6_suppl_4.s3 · Cited by 415 · see citing works
Development and plasticity of cortical areas and networks
Sur, M., & Leamey, C. A. (2001) · Nature reviews. Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/35067562 · Cited by 372 · see citing works
Henry, T. R., Bakay, R. A. E., Votaw, J. R., Pennell, P. B., Epstein, C. M., Faber, T. L., Grafton, S. T., & Hoffman, J. M. (1998) · Epilepsia · doi:10.1111/j.1528-1157.1998.tb01448.x · Cited by 367 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation is associated with mood improvements in epilepsy patients
Elger, G., Hoppe, C., Falkai, P., Rush, A. J., & Elger, C. E. (2000) · Epilepsy Research · doi:10.1016/s0920-1211(00)00181-9 · Cited by 365 · see citing works
Bailey, P., & Bremer, F. (1938) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1938.1.5.405 · Cited by 333 · see citing works
Wu, J. C., Buchsbaum, M. S., Gillin, J. C., Tang, C. Y., Cadwell, S., Wiegand, M. H., Najafi, A., Klein, E., Hazen, K., & Bunney, W. E. (1999) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.156.8.1149 · Cited by 327 · see citing works
Hierarchical somatosensory processing
Iwamura, Y. (1998) · Current Opinion in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/s0959-4388(98)80041-x · Cited by 311 · see citing works
Regional cerebral glucose utilization in patients with a range of severities of unipolar depression
Kimbrell, T. A., Ketter, T. A., George, M. S., Little, J. T., Benson, B. E., Willis, M. W., Herscovitch, P., & Post, R. M. (2002) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01216-1 · Cited by 300 · see citing works
Self-citationVagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for major depressive episodes: one year outcomes
Marangell, L. B., Rush, A. J., George, M. S., Sackeïm, H. A., Johnson, C. R., Husain, M. M., Nahas, Z. H., & Lisanby, S. H. (2002) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01343-9 · Cited by 288 · see citing works
Self-citationGeorge, M. S., Ketter, T. A., Parekh, P. I., Rosinsky, N., RING, H. A., Pazzaglia, P. J., Marangell, L. B., Callahan, A. M., & Post, R. M. (1997) · Journal of Neuropsychiatry · doi:10.1176/jnp.9.1.55 · Cited by 253 · see citing works
Self-citationAcute blood flow changes and efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation in partial epilepsy
Henry, T. R., Votaw, J. R., Pennell, P. B., Epstein, C. M., Bakay, R. A. E., Faber, T. L., Grafton, S. T., & Hoffman, J. M. (1999) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.52.6.1166 · Cited by 252 · see citing works
Brain metabolic changes associated with symptom factor improvement in major depressive disorder
Brody, A. L., Saxena, S., Mandelkern, M. A., Fairbanks, L. A., Ho, M. L., & Baxter, L. R. (2001) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01117-9 · Cited by 212 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation therapy summary
Schachter, S. C. (2002) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.59.6_suppl_4.s15 · Cited by 178 · see citing works
Lomarev, M., Denslow, S., Nahas, Z., Chae, J.-H., George, M. S., & Bohning, D. E. (2002) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/s0022-3956(02)00013-4 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Self-citationVagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Medically Intractable Seizures
Salinsky, M. (1996) · Archives of Neurology · doi:10.1001/archneur.1996.00550110128021 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Bockstaele, E. J. V., Peoples, J. F., & Valentino, R. J. (1999) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00213-9 · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Peripheral control of hypersynchronous discharge in epilepsy
Zabara, J. (1985) · Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/0013-4694(85)90626-1 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Ko, D., Heck, C., Grafton, S. T., Apuzzo, M. L. J., Couldwell, W. T., Chen, T., Day, J. D., Zelman, V., Thomas, S., & DeGiorgio, C. M. (1996) · Neurosurgery · doi:10.1097/00006123-199608000-00061 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Feasibility of Vagus Nerve Stimulation–Synchronized Blood Oxygenation Level–Dependent Functional MRI
Bohning, D. E., Lomarev, M. P., Denslow, S., Nahas, Z. H., Shastri, A., & George, M. S. (2001) · Investigative Radiology · doi:10.1097/00004424-200108000-00006 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Self-citationGoodwin, G. M., Austin, M., Dougall, N. J., Ross, M. C., Murray, C. L., O'Carroll, R. E., Moffoot, A. P. R., Prentice, N. P., & Ebmeier, K. P. (1993) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/0165-0327(93)90014-b · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Increased limbic blood flow and total sleep deprivation in major depression with melancholia
Ebert, D., Feistel, H., Barocka, A., & Kaschka, W. P. (1994) · Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/0925-4927(94)90004-3 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Physiological imaging of the brain with PET
GJEDDE, A. H. (2001) · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Vonck, K. E. J., Boon, P., Laere, K. V., D’Havé, M., Vandekerckhove, T., O'Connor, S., Brans, B. T., Dierckx, R. A., & Reuck, J. D. (2000) · Epilepsia · doi:10.1111/j.1528-1157.2000.tb00215.x · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation for refractory epilepsy
Boon, P., Vonck, K. E. J., Reuck, J. D., & Caemaert, J. (2001) · Seizure · doi:10.1053/seiz.2001.0626 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
George, M. S., Sackeïm, H. A., Marangell, L. B., Husain, M. M., Nahas, Z. H., Lisanby, S. H., Ballenger, J. C., & Rush, A. J. (2000) · Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/s0193-953x(05)70196-9 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Self-citationRING, H. A., White, S., Costa, D. C., Pottinger, R., Dick, J., Koeze, T. H., & Sutcliffe, J. (2000) · Seizure · doi:10.1053/seiz.2000.0438 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Gsell, W., de Sadeleer, C., Marchalant, Y., MacKenzie, E. T., Schumann‐Bard, P., & Dauphin, F. (2000) · Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy · doi:10.1016/s0891-0618(00)00095-8 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation therapy
George, M. S., Nahas, Z. H., Bohning, D. E., Kozel, F. A., Anderson, B., Chae, J., Lomarev, M. P., Denslow, S., Li, X., & Mu, C. (2002) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.59.6_suppl_4.s56 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Self-citationVagus nerve stimulation in refractory epilepsy: SPECT activation study.
Laere, K. V., Vonck, K. E. J., Boon, P., Brans, B. T., Vandekerckhove, T., & Dierckx, R. A. J. O. (2000) · PubMed · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Neuroactivation and Neuroimaging with SPET
George, M. S., RING, H. A., Costa, D. C., Ell, P. J., Kouris, K., & Jarritt, P. H. (1991) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4471-1901-2 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Self-citationRegional Cerebral Blood Flow in Man Manipulated by Direct Vagal Stimulation
Garnett, E. S., Nahmias, C., Scheffel, A., Firnau, G., & Upton, A. R. M. (1992) · Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1540-8159.1992.tb02936.x · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Helmstaedter, C., & Elger, C. E. (1998) · Epilepsia · doi:10.1111/j.1528-1157.1998.tb01392.x · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Bullmore, E. T., & John Suckling, A. (2001) · International Review of Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/09540260020024169 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy of Unverricht‐Lundborg Type
Smith, B. J., Shatz, R. S., Elisevich, K. V., Bespalova, I. N., & Burmeister, M. (2000) · Epilepsia · doi:10.1111/j.1528-1157.2000.tb00293.x · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine In Asymptomatic Adults
Greenberg, J. O., & Schnell, R. G. (1991) · Journal of Neuroimaging · doi:10.1111/jon1991112 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Vagus Nerve Stimulation: A New Form of Therapeutic Brain Stimulation
George, M. S., Nahas, Z. H., Bohning, D. E., Lomarev, M., Denslow, S., Osenbach, R. K., & Ballenger, J. C. (2000) · CNS Spectrums · doi:10.1017/s109285290002191x · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Self-citationXu, F., & FRAZIER, D. T. (1995) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(95)01138-2 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation and the ketogenic diet
Wheless, J. W., Baumgartner, J., & Ghanbari, C. (2001) · Neurologic Clinics · doi:10.1016/s0733-8619(05)70023-2 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Positioning of vagal nerve stimulators: technical note
Maniker, A. H., Liu, W., Marks, D. A., Moser, K., & Kalnin, A. (2000) · Surgical Neurology · doi:10.1016/s0090-3019(99)00176-7 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
SPECT Functional Brain Imaging; Technical Considerations
Devous, M. D. (1995) · Journal of Neuroimaging · doi:10.1111/jon19955s1s2 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
SPECT Functional Brain Imaging
Devous, M. D. (2002) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-012693019-1/50021-6 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Effects of VNS on regional cerebral blood flow in depressed subjects
Devous, M. D., Husain, M. H., Harris, T. S., & Rush, A. J. (2002) · European Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0924-9338(02)80506-5 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
[Secondary mesencephalic, diencephalic and amygdalian projections of vagal visceral afferences].
Dell, P. C., & Olson, R. (1951) · PubMed · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Magnetic resonance neuroimaging
Chong, W. K. (1995) · Current Paediatrics · doi:10.1016/s0957-5839(95)80227-4 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Functional imaging studies of epilepsy therapies.
Henry, T. R. (2000) · PubMed · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for treatment-resistant depression.
La, T., & Hailey, D. M. (2001) · PubMed · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Stolerman, I. P., & Price, L. H. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-36172-2_200702 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Chapter 7 Thalamocortical and corticocortical interactions in the somatosensory system
Nicolelis, M. A. L., & Shuler, M. G. H. (2001) · Progress in brain research · doi:10.1016/s0079-6123(01)30008-0 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Robertson, J. A., Roux, C. P., & Wiggins, K. G. (2002) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.3109/9780203627105 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Demonstration of human motor cortex activation using SPECT
George, M. S., RING, H. A., Costa, D. C., Kouris, K., & Ell, P. J. (1992) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/bf01245369 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Self-citationVagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy
Wheless, J. W. (2008) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/b13612-10 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Refractory Epilepsy
Boon, P. (2001) · Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1097/00004691-200109000-00001 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation in patients: a BOLD fMRI study
Liu, W., Mosier, K. M., Kalnin, A., & Marks, D. A. (2001) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/s1053-8119(01)92152-4 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation in patients with refractory epilepsy: Efficacy and tolerance
Galli, R., Gneri, C., Lutzemberger, L., Bonanni, E., Gori, S., Pizzanelli, C., Lenzi, B., Sabella, S., & Murri, L. (1999) · Epilepsia · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
1 of the 66 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain–Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders
Breit, S., Kupferberg, A., Rogler, G., & Hasler, G. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00044 · Cited by 1,189 · see citing works
Optimization of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Using Functional MRI
Yakunina, N., Kim, S. S., & Nam, E. (2016) · Neuromodulation Technology at the Neural Interface · doi:10.1111/ner.12541 · Cited by 504 · see citing works
Nemeroff, C. B., Mayberg, H. S., Krahl, S. E., McNamara, J., Frazer, A., Henry, T. R., George, M. S., Charney, D. S., & Brannan, S. K. (2006) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301082 · Cited by 496 · see citing works
Self-citation(2007) · PubMed · Cited by 453 · see citing works
Yap, J. Y. Y., Keatch, C., Lambert, É., Woods, W., Stoddart, P. R., & Kameneva, T. (2020) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00284 · Cited by 442 · see citing works
Kraus, T., Hösl, K. M., Kiess, O., Schanze, A., Kornhuber, J., & Forster, C. (2007) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/s00702-007-0755-z · Cited by 410 · see citing works
Bonaz, B., Sinniger, V., & Pellissier, S. (2017) · Frontiers in Immunology · doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.01452 · Cited by 405 · see citing works
George, M. S., & Aston‐Jones, G. (2009) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2009.87 · Cited by 402 · see citing works
Self-citationVagus Nerve and Vagus Nerve Stimulation, a Comprehensive Review: Part III
Yuan, H., & Silberstein, S. D. (2015) · Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain · doi:10.1111/head.12649 · Cited by 381 · see citing works
Glucose improvement of memory: a review
Messier, C. (2004) · European Journal of Pharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.02.043 · Cited by 335 · see citing works
Current Directions in the Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation I – A Physiological Perspective
Kaniušas, E., Kampusch, S., Tittgemeyer, M., Panetsos, F., Gines, R. F., Papa, M., Kiss, A., Podesser, B. K., Cassara, A. M., Tanghe, E., et al. (2019) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00854 · Cited by 331 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation: from epilepsy to the cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway
Bonaz, B., Picq, C., Sinniger, V., Mayol, J., & Clarencon, D. (2013) · Neurogastroenterology and Motility · doi:10.1111/nmo.12076 · Cited by 302 · see citing works
Progress report on new antiepileptic drugs: a summary of the Seventh Eilat Conference (EILAT VII)
Bialer, M., Johannessen, S. I., Kupferberg, H. J., Levy, R. H., Perucca, E., & Tomson, T. (2004) · Epilepsy Research · doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2004.07.010 · Cited by 300 · see citing works
Kraus, T., Kiess, O., Hösl, K. M., Terekhin, P., Kornhuber, J., & Forster, C. (2013) · Brain stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2013.01.011 · Cited by 299 · see citing works
Where in the Brain Is Depression?
Pandya, M. A., Altinay, M. I., Malone, D. A., & Anand, A. (2012) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-012-0322-7 · Cited by 302 · see citing works
A pilot study of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for treatment-resistant anxiety disorders
George, M. S., Ward, H. E., Ninan, P. T., Pollack, M., Nahas, Z., Anderson, B., Kose, S., Howland, R. H., Goodman, W. K., & Ballenger, J. C. (2008) · Brain Stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2008.02.001 · Cited by 251 · see citing works
Self-citationThe effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on pain perception – An experimental study
Busch, V., Zeman, F., Heckel, A., Menne, F., Ellrich, J., & Eichhammer, P. (2012) · Brain stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2012.04.006 · Cited by 251 · see citing works
Manta, S., Dong, J., Debonnel, G., & Blier, P. (2009) · Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience · doi:10.1139/jpn.0936 · Cited by 245 · see citing works
Role of the vagus nerve in the development and treatment of diet‐induced obesity
de Lartigue, G. (2016) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jp271538 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
The chemical neuroanatomy of vagus nerve stimulation
Ruffoli, R., Giorgi, F. S., Pizzanelli, C., Murri, L., Paparelli, A., & Fornai, F. (2010) · Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy · doi:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2010.12.002 · Cited by 232 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation: a new promising therapeutic tool in inflammatory bowel disease
Bonaz, B., Sinniger, V., & Pellissier, S. (2017) · Journal of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1111/joim.12611 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
Vagal nerve stimulation for treatment-resistant depression
Carreno, F. R., & Frazer, A. (2017) · Neurotherapeutics · doi:10.1007/s13311-017-0537-8 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation for depression: efficacy and safety in a European study
Schlaepfer, T. E., Frick, C., Zobel, A., Maier, W., Heuser, I., Bajbouj, M., O'Keane, V., Corcoran, C., Adolfsson, R., Trimble, M., et al. (2008) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291707001924 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: From Concept to Application
Wang, Y., Li, S., Wang, D., Wu, M., He, J., Zhang, J., Zhao, B., Hou, L.-W., Wang, J., Wang, L., et al. (2020) · Neuroscience Bulletin · doi:10.1007/s12264-020-00619-y · Cited by 200 · see citing works
Wang, G.-J., Yang, J., Volkow, N. D., Telang, F., Ma, Y., Zhu, W., Wong, C. T., Tomasi, D., Thanos, P. K., & Fowler, J. S. (2006) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0601977103 · Cited by 168 · see citing works
Daban, C., Martinez-Aran, A., Cruz, N., & Vieta, E. (2008) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2008.02.012 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Targeted Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Rehabilitation After Stroke
Engineer, N. D., Kimberley, T. J., Prudente, C. N., Dawson, J., Tarver, W. B., & Hays, S. A. (2019) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00280 · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Retrospective Assessment of Cardiac Safety in a Pilot Study
Kreuzer, P. M., Landgrebe, M., Hüsser, O., Resch, M., Schecklmann, M., Geisreiter, F., Poeppl, T. B., Prasser, S. J., Hajak, G., & Langguth, B. (2012) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00070 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation inhibits cortical spreading depression
Chen, S., Ay, İ., Morais, A., Qin, T., Zheng, Y. Z., Sadeghian, H., Oka, F., Simon, B. J., Eikermann‐Haerter, K., & Ayata, C. (2015) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000437 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Neural circuitry and neuroplasticity in mood disorders: Insights for novel therapeutic targets
Carlson, P. J., Singh, J. B., Zarate, C. A., Drevets, W. C., & Manji, H. K. (2006) · NeuroRx · doi:10.1016/j.nurx.2005.12.009 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
Serial Vagus Nerve Stimulation Functional MRI in Treatment-Resistant Depression
Nahas, Z. H., Tenebäck, C. C., Chae, J., Mu, Q., Molnar, C., Kozel, F. A., Walker, J., Anderson, B. S., Koola, J., Köse, S., et al. (2007) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301288 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
Self-citationDissecting axes of autonomic control in humans: insights from neuroimaging
Critchley, H. D., Nagai, Y., Gray, M. A., & Mathias, C. J. (2011) · Autonomic Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.autneu.2010.09.005 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation induces widespread cortical and behavioral activation
Collins, L. N., Boddington, L. J., Steffan, P. J., & McCormick, D. A. (2021) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2021.02.049 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Henry, T. R., Bakay, R. A. E., Pennell, P. B., Epstein, C. M., & Votaw, J. R. (2004) · Epilepsia · doi:10.1111/j.0013-9580.2004.03104.x · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Electrical stimulation of cranial nerves in cognition and disease
Adair, D., Truong, D. Q., Esmaeilpour, Z., Gebodh, N., Borges, H., Ho, L., Bremner, J. D., Badran, B. W., Napadow, V., Clark, V. P., et al. (2020) · Brain stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2020.02.019 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Mechanisms of Neural Response to Gastrointestinal Nutritive Stimuli: The Gut-Brain Axis
Tsurugizawa, T., Uematsu, A., Nakamura, E., Hasumura, M., Hirota, M., Kondoh, T., Uneyama, H., & Torii, K. (2009) · Gastroenterology · doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2009.02.057 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Val‐Laillet, D., Biraben, A., Randuineau, G., & Malbert, C. (2010) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2010.06.008 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Ellrich, J. (2011) · European Neurological Review · doi:10.17925/enr.2011.06.04.254 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Zobel, A., Joe, A., Freymann, N., Clusmann, H., Schramm, J., Reinhardt, M., Biersack, H.-J., Maier, W., & Broich, K. (2005) · Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2005.02.010 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Advances in the treatment of depression
Holtzheimer, P. E., & Nemeroff, C. B. (2006) · NeuroRx · doi:10.1016/j.nurx.2005.12.007 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Graded recruitment of pupil-linked neuromodulation by parametric stimulation of the vagus nerve
Mridha, Z., de Gee, J. W., Shi, Y., Alkashgari, R., Williams, J. C., Suminski, A. J., Ward, M. P., Zhang, W., & McGinley, M. J. (2021) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-021-21730-2 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
McClelland, J., Bozhilova, N. S., Campbell, I. C., & Schmidt, U. H. (2013) · European Eating Disorders Review · doi:10.1002/erv.2256 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
WFSBP Guidelines on Brain Stimulation Treatments in Psychiatry
Schlaepfer, T. E., George, M. S., & Mayberg, H. (2009) · The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/15622970903170835 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Self-citationPusher Syndrome – a frequent but little-known disturbance of body orientation perception
Karnath, H. (2007) · Journal of Neurology · doi:10.1007/s00415-006-0341-6 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Kinfe, T. M., Pintea, B., Muhammad, S., Zaremba, S., Roeske, S., Simon, B. J., & Vatter, H. (2015) · The Journal of Headache and Pain · doi:10.1186/s10194-015-0582-9 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Connectomic Profiling Identifies Responders to Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Mithani, K., Mikhail, M., Morgan, B. R., Wong, S. M., Weil, A. G., Deschênes, S., Wang, S., Bernal, B., Guillen, M. R., Ochi, A., et al. (2019) · Annals of Neurology · doi:10.1002/ana.25574 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Fang, J., Egorova, N., Rong, P., Liu, J. H., Yang, H., Fan, Y., Wang, X., Wang, H., Yu, Y., Ma, Y., et al. (2016) · NeuroImage Clinical · doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2016.12.016 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Ellrich, J. (2019) · Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1097/wnp.0000000000000576 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
Transcutaneous Cervical Vagus Nerve Stimulation Ameliorates Acute Ischemic Injury in Rats
Ay, İ., Nasser, R., Simon, B. J., & Ay, H. (2015) · Brain stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2015.11.008 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Anatomo-Physiologic Basis for Auricular Stimulation
Mercante, B., Ginatempo, F., Manca, A., Melis, F., Enrico, P., & Deriu, F. (2018) · Medical Acupuncture · doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1254 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Acute vagus nerve stimulation using different pulse widths produces varying brain effects
Mu, Q., Bohning, D. E., Nahas, Z. H., Walker, J., Anderson, B. S., Johnson, K. A., Denslow, S., Lomarev, M. P., Moghadam, P., Chae, J., et al. (2004) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2003.12.004 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Self-citationKreuzer, P. M., Landgrebe, M., Resch, M., Hüsser, O., Schecklmann, M., Geisreiter, F., Poeppl, T. B., Prasser, S. J., Hajak, G., Rupprecht, R., et al. (2014) · Brain stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2014.05.003 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Application of Noninvasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation to Stress-Related Psychiatric Disorders
Bremner, J. D., Gurel, N. Z., Wittbrodt, M. T., Shandhi, M. M. H., Rapaport, M. H., Nye, J. A., Pearce, B. D., Vaccarino, V., Shah, A. J., Park, J., et al. (2020) · Journal of Personalized Medicine · doi:10.3390/jpm10030119 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Human vagus nerve branching in the cervical region.
Hammer, N., Glätzner, J., Feja, C., Kühne, C., Meixensberger, J., Planitzer, U., Schleifenbaum, S., Tillmann, B. N., & Winkler, D. (2015) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0118006 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
BOLD fMRI effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in patients with chronic tinnitus
Yakunina, N., Kim, S. S., & Nam, E. (2018) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0207281 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Cook, I. A., Abrams, M., & Leuchter, A. F. (2016) · Neuromodulation Technology at the Neural Interface · doi:10.1111/ner.12399 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation acutely alters food craving in adults with depression
Bodenlos, J. S., Köse, S., Borckardt, J. J., Nahas, Z. H., Shaw, D. L., O'Neil, P. M., & George, M. S. (2006) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2006.07.080 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Self-citationVagus nerve stimulation reduces infarct size in rat focal cerebral ischemia
Ay, İ., Lu, J., Ay, H., & Sorensen, A. G. (2009) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2009.05.018 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation for drug-resistant epilepsy
Pérez‐Carbonell, L., Faulkner, H. J., Higgins, S. E., Koutroumanidis, M., & Leschziner, G. D. (2019) · Practical Neurology · doi:10.1136/practneurol-2019-002210 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Central mechanisms of cranial nerve stimulation for epilepsy
Fanselow, E. E. (2012) · Surgical Neurology International · doi:10.4103/2152-7806.103014 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Wang, Z., Fang, J., Liu, J. H., Rong, P., Jorgenson, K., Park, J., Lang, C., Yang, H., Zhu, B., & Kong, J. (2017) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.12.018 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Schrader, L. M., Cook, I. A., Miller, P. R., Maremont, E. R., & DeGiorgio, C. M. (2011) · Epilepsy & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2011.06.026 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Electroceutical Targeting of the Autonomic Nervous System
Horn, C. C., Ardell, J. L., & Fisher, L. E. (2019) · Physiology · doi:10.1152/physiol.00030.2018 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Basic and clinical aspects of visceral sensation: transmission in the CNS
Bielefeldt, K., Christianson, J. A., & Davis, B. M. (2005) · Neurogastroenterology & Motility · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2982.2005.00671.x · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Ticini, L. F., Klose, U., Nägele, T., & Karnath, H. (2009) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005737 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Müller, H., Moeller, S., Lücke, C., Lam, A. P., Braun, N., & Philipsen, A. (2018) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00239 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Effects of vagus nerve stimulation on pupillary function
Jodoin, V. D., Lespérance, P., Nguyen, D. K., Fournier‐Gosselin, M., & Richer, F. (2015) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2015.10.001 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Cao, J., Lu, K., Powley, T. L., & Liu, Z. (2017) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0189518 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
You May Need a Nerve to Treat Pain
Couck, M., Nijs, J., & Gidron, Y. (2014) · Clinical Journal of Pain · doi:10.1097/ajp.0000000000000071 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Yu, J. Z., & Kong, J. (2017) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2016.00609 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Sangaré, A., Marchi, A., Pruvost‐Robieux, E., Soufflet, C., Crépon, B., Ramdani, C., Chassoux, F., Turak, B., Landré, E., & Gavaret, M. (2020) · Brain Connectivity · doi:10.1089/brain.2020.0798 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
"Pusher syndrome" following cortical lesions that spare the thalamus
Johannsen, L., Broetz, D., Naegele, T., & Karnath, H. ‐. (2006) · Journal of Neurology · doi:10.1007/s00415-005-0025-7 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Brain–gut communication via vagus nerve modulates conditioned flavor preference
Uematsu, A., Tsurugizawa, T., Uneyama, H., & Torii, K. (2010) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07136.x · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders
George, M. S., Nahas, Z. H., Borckardt, J. J., Anderson, B. S., Burns, C. A., Köse, S., & Short, E. B. (2006) · Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics · doi:10.1586/14737175.7.1.63 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Self-citationBrunyé, T. T., Patterson, J. E., Wooten, T., & Hussey, E. K. (2021) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.625321 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Crone, L. J., & Teddlie, C. B. (1995) · The Journal of classroom interaction · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation: An update on a novel treatment for treatment-resistant depression
Kamel, L. Y., Xiong, W., Gott, B. M., Kumar, A., & Conway, C. R. (2022) · Journal of the Neurological Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.jns.2022.120171 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Reyt, S., Picq, C. A., Sinniger, V., Clarençon, D., Bonaz, B. L., & Olivier David, A. (2010) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.05.021 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Akhtar, H., Bukhari, F., Nazir, M., Anwar, M. N., & Shahzad, A. (2016) · Neuroscience Bulletin · doi:10.1007/s12264-015-0009-2 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Yao, S., & Kendrick, K. M. (2022) · Pharmaceutics · doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics14020323 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Vagus nerve stimulation suppresses pain but has limited effects on neurogenic inflammation in humans
Kirchner, A., Stefan, H., Bastian, K., & Birklein, F. (2005) · European Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.ejpain.2005.06.005 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Critchley, H. D., Lewis, P. A., Orth, M., Josephs, O., Deichmann, R., Trimble, M. R., & Dolan, R. J. (2007) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/psy.0b013e31802e106d · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Markert, M. S., & Fisher, R. S. (2018) · Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics · doi:10.1080/14737175.2019.1554433 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
How does oxytocin modulate human behavior?
Yao, S., & Kendrick, K. M. (2025) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-025-02898-1 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Barbella, G., Cocco, I., Freri, E., Marotta, G., Visani, E., Franceschetti, S., & Casazza, M. (2018) · Seizure · doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2018.06.016 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Epilepsy and Neuromodulation—Randomized Controlled Trials
Kwon, C., Ripa, V., Al-Awar, O., Panov, F. E., Ghatan, S., & Jetté, N. (2018) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci8040069 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Mercante, B., Enrico, P., Floris, G., Quartu, M., Boi, M., Serra, M. P., Follesa, P., & Deriu, F. (2017) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.08.012 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Small animal positron emission tomography during vagus nerve stimulation in rats: A pilot study
Dedeurwaerdere, S., Cornelissen, B. T., Laere, K. V., Vonck, K. E. J., Achten, E., Slegers, G., & Boon, P. (2005) · Epilepsy Research · doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2005.09.008 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Brain imaging correlates of peripheral nerve stimulation
Bari, A., & Pouratian, N. (2012) · Surgical Neurology International · doi:10.4103/2152-7806.103016 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Somsen, R. J. M., Jennings, J. R., & van der Molen, M. W. (2004) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2004.00241.x · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Neurotrophins: a biological psychiatric perspective.
Rosso, P., Iannitelli, A., Pacitti, F., Quartini, A., Fico, E., Fiore, M., Greco, A., Ralli, M., & Tirassa, P. (2020) · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.034 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Rizvi, S. J., Donovan, M., Giacobbe, P., Placenza, F., Rotzinger, S., & Kennedy, S. H. (2011) · International Review of Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/09540261.2011.630993 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Neurostimulation—Past, Present, and Beyond
Ben‐Menachem, E. (2012) · Epiliepsy currents/Epilepsy currents · doi:10.5698/1535-7511-12.5.188 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Future prospects in depression research
Holtzheimer, P. E., & Nemeroff, C. B. (2006) · Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.31887/dcns.2006.8.2/pholtzheimer · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation in Parkinson’s disease: current status and future prospects
Sigurdsson, H. P., Raw, R. K., Hunter, H., Baker, M. R., Taylor, J., Rochester, L., & Yarnall, A. J. (2021) · Expert Review of Medical Devices · doi:10.1080/17434440.2021.1969913 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Transcranial and Deep Brain Stimulation Approaches as Treatment for Depression
Rau, A., Großheinrich, N., Palm, U., Pogarell, O. M., & Padberg, F. (2007) · Clinical EEG and Neuroscience · doi:10.1177/155005940703800213 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
London, E. (2018) · Frontiers in Neurology · doi:10.3389/fneur.2018.01120 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Direct and Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Tinnitus: A Scoping Review
Yakunina, N., & Nam, E. (2021) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.680590 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Rush, A. J., Marangell, L. B., Sackeim, H. A., George, M. S., Brannan, S. K., Davis, S. M., Howland, R., Kling, M. A., Rittberg, B. R., Burke, W. J., et al. (2005) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.05.025 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Self-citationFarmer, A. D., Albusoda, A., Amarasinghe, G., Ruffle, J. K., Fitzke, H., Idrees, R., Fried, R., Brock, C., & Aziz, Q. (2020) · Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics · doi:10.1111/apt.15869 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
- Authors
- Chae, J.-H., Nahas, Z., Lomarev, M., Denslow, S., Lorberbaum, J. P., Bohning, D. E., & George, M. S.
- Affiliations
- Medical University of South Carolina (US)
- Corresponding author
- George, Mark S
- Venue
- Journal of Psychiatric Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-11
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 443-455
- ISSN
- 0022-3956 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2064445431
- Cited by
- 255
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 1.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Psychiatric Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Neurological disorders and treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Keywords
- vagus nerve stimulation, functional neuroimaging, seizure prevention, epilepsy, antidepressants, mechanism of action, thalamus, cerebellum, orbitofrontal cortex, limbic system, hypothalamus, medulla, brain activation, neuropsychiatric disorders
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Electric Stimulation Therapy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Oxygen, Seizures, Tomography, Emission-Computed, Vagus Nerve, Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon, Radiopharmaceuticals, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
