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 the treatment is more effective when the electrical stimulation is synchronized with the body’s natural rhythms—the actual heartbeat and breathing. The findings are published in the journal 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 parasympathetic nervous system, the part of the nervous system that is significantly involved in the precise control of the internal organs and blood circulation, and is responsible for recovery and building up the body’s own reserves.