REVIEW article
Front. Neurol.
Sec. Neurorehabilitation
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1676727
This article is part of the Research TopicNew methods in neurorehabilitationView all 18 articles
Clinical Advances in Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Post-Stroke Disorders: State of the Art and Future Perspectives
Provisionally accepted
Jifei Sun1*
Xuefei Li2Yuan Zhou1Hongwei Liu1Chenjie Ma1Chunbo Hao1Shuqing Liu1
Xue Xiao3*Jingxue Zhao4Xiaojian Zhang4- 1Shunyi Hospital of Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Beijing, China
- 2China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- 3Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing, China
- 4China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
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[Abstract]Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive neuromodulation therapy for post-stroke disorders. This review synthesizes current evidence on the clinical efficacy and underlying mechanisms of taVNS in addressing a spectrum of post-stroke disorders, including motor, sensory, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive impairments. By targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, taVNS modulates central pathways involved in neuroplasticity, anti-inflammation, angiogenesis, and blood-brain barrier protection, offering a multifaceted approach to stroke rehabilitation. Clinical studies demonstrate its potential to enhance functional recovery and improve quality of life, supported by its favorable safety profile and patient compliance. However, challenges such as parameter standardization, mechanistic elucidation, and individualized protocols remain. Future research should focus on large-scale trials, mechanistic exploration, and technological innovations to optimize taVNS applications in stroke care.
Keywords: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, stroke rehabilitation, Neuromodulation, neuroplasticity, Non-Invasive Therapy
Received: 31 Jul 2025; Accepted: 30 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Sun, Li, Zhou, Liu, Ma, Hao, Liu, Xiao, Zhao and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Jifei Sun, 1763053005@qq.com
Xue Xiao, xiaoxuepsy@sina.com
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.