Four-second trains of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation increase online corticospinal excitability and pupil size in humans

Journal of Neurophysiology 2026

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Authors: Ronan Denyer, Shiyong Su, Mantosh Patnaik, Julie Duqué
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00008.2026
Cited by: 2
References: 104

Abstract

Four-second trains of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) increase corticospinal excitability and pupil size compared with sham stimulation, but only "online" during active stimulation. Corticospinal excitability and pupil size show distinct temporal profiles of change in response to 4-s trains of tVNS. tVNS-induced changes in corticospinal excitability and pupil size are not correlated, which is likely reflective of the distinct anatomical circuits underpinning each effect.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of Neurophysiology
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Volume
135
Issue
4
Pages
766–776
Publication date
24 February 2026
Language
EN