Effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cognitive emotion regulation

Effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on cognitive emotion regulation (ER) will be investigated to explore noradrenergic modulation of ER. In a within-subject design, participants complete a computerized, picture-based ER paradigm under active taVNS and sham stimulation. ER performance will be measured using pupil dilations and subjective ratings. Tonic pupil diameter, salivary alpha-amylase, and heart rate serve as markers of sympathetic activation, and salivary cortisol as a marker of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activation.