Invasive and Non-invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation for the Brain

Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS) has a history that can be traced back to the 1880s. Throughout the 20th century, studies on VNS were almost inseparable from the characteristic of invasiveness. By the end of the second millennium, based on auricular acupuncture (AA) and classic VNS, non-invasive VNS had emerged, opening a new era in the field of neuromodulation. In brain diseases, it is well-known that the major confirmed indications of VNS are refractory epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression. Due to the neuroanatomic feature of the vagal nerve and the autonomic consequences, VNS, de facto, can be applied to more diseases, including multiple neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Numerous methods, on both animals and humans, have been employed in the VNS studies for the brain, expanding its indications and elucidating inspirational novel insights into this unique therapeutic strategy.

This Research Topic aims to collect all kinds of novel studies focusing on invasive and non-invasive VNS for the brain apart from epilepsy and depression, including but not limited to: neurodevelopmental disorders [e.g., Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disabilities (IDs), etc.], neurodegenerative diseases [e.g., Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), Huntington's Disease (HD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), etc.], Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Insomnia, Stroke, Disorders of Consciousness (DOC), Migraine, Tinnitus, Cognition Improvement, Addiction and the autonomic consequences.

For this Research Topic, we welcome Case Report, Brief Research Report, Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective on the following themes:
- Animal studies using invasive or non-invasive VNS on brain diseases except epilepsy and depression
- Clinical studies using invasive or non-invasive VNS on brain diseases except epilepsy and depression
- New closed-loop invasive or non-invasive VNS on brain diseases except epilepsy and depression
- Cognition improvement studies using invasive or non-invasive VNS
- Invasive or non-invasive VNS for addiction

Keywords: Brain Stimulation, Invasive, Non-invasive, Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Brain Diseases, Animal studies, Clinical studies

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.