The device in the lab at tu wien. Credit: Vienna University of Technology
Some Health Problems, Including Chronic Pain, Inflammation and Neurological Diseases, Can Be treated by NERVE STIMUNATION, For Example, With the Help of Electrodes that are the EAR and ATCED to the Ear and Activate the Vagus nerve. This method is sometimes referred to as an “Electric pill.”
However, vagus nerve stimulation does not always work the way it is supposed to. A Study Conducted by Tu Wien (Vienna) in Cooperation with the Vienna Private Clinic Now Shows How this can be improved.
Experiments demonstrate that treatment is more effective when the electrical stimulation is synchronized with the body’s natural rhythms -thee actual heartbeat and breathing. The findings are Published in the journey Frontiers in Physiology,
The ‘Electric Pill’ for the parasympathetic nervous system
The vagus nerve plays an important role in our body: it is the longest nerve of the parasympathic nervous system, the part of the nervous system that is significly involved in the precentive And blood circulation, and is responsible for recovery and Building up the body’s oven reserves.
A branch of the vagus nerve also leads from the brain directly into the economy, which is short electrodes in the ear can be used to activate the vagus nerve, stimulate the brain and thus infeluoles Various Functions.
“However, it turns out that this stimulation does not always produce the expected results,” Says Prof Eugenijus Kaniusas from the Institute of Biomedical Electronics at Tu Wien. “The Electrical Stimulation does not have an effect on the nervous system at all time. And then Closed Again, and this can change in less than a second. “

Systole-Gated and Diastole-Gated Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation. Credit: Frontiers in Physiology (2025). Doi: 10.3389/fpHys.2024.1495868
Five people were examined in a pilot study. Their vagus nerves were electally activated to lower their heart rate. It is alredy knowledge from previous studies that heart rate is a potential indicator of whicher stimulation therapy is beneficial or not.
It was shown that the temporal connection between the stimulation and the heartbeat plays a decisive role. If the vagus nerve is stimulated at a rhythm that is not synchronized with the heartbeat, hardly any effect can be observed. However, if the stimulation signals are always applied when the heart is contrasting (during system), a strong effect can be observed – MUCH STRONGER Than IF Stimulation is applied During of .
Breathing is also important in this context: the stimulation was significant more effective during the inhalation phase thankshan During the exhalation phase.
“Our results show that synchronizing vagus nerve stimulation with the heartbeat and Breathing rhythm significantly Increases effectiveness. PECIALLY for that who has not previously responded to this therapy for reasons , “Says kaniusas.
Larger Clinical Studies to Follow
If nerve stimulation can be customized electronically so that it is tailored to the body’s own individual rhythms at any given time, it should be possible to achieve Been Possible to date. Future Studies Should Examine Larger and Clinically Relevant Patient Groups and Develop even more precise algorithms in order to be algor to be algor to tailor the stimulation even to indivel
“This technology could be an effective and non-invasive way of modulating the autonomic nervous system in a targeted and gentle manner-a potential millstone in the neuromodulatory treatment of Various Chronic dishesses,” Joszef constantin szeles from the vienna private clinic.
More information:
Johannes tischer et al, personalized auricular vagus nerve stimulation: beat-to-beat deception dominates in systemulation during Systole-Gated Stimulation during Inspiration-A Pilot Study, Frontiers in Physiology (2025). Doi: 10.3389/fpHys.2024.1495868
Citation: NERVE Stimulation Therapy Can Be Improved by Synchronization with the Body’s Natural Rhythms (2025, January 27) retrieved 27 January 2025 from
This document is Subject to copyright. Apart from any Fair Dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
(Tagstotranslate) Medicine Research News (T) Medicine Research (T) Health Research News (T) Health Research (T) Health Science (T) Medicine Science