New Study Shows Vagus Nerve Stimulation Diminishes Susceptibility to Body Illusions
In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Psychophysiology, researchers have found that stimulating the vagus nerve can make individuals less susceptible to the rubber hand illusion, which causes people to feel that a fake hand is part of their own body. This discovery is significant as it might pave the way for improved treatment methods for mental health conditions where bodily self-awareness is affected.
This study illuminates the role of the vagus nerve—a crucial pathway that allows the body to communicate with the brain, affecting emotion, attention, and self-awareness. With the potential to influence both mental health and brain functionality, the research focuses on a non-invasive technique known as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS). This method delivers low-level electrical pulses to a part of the ear connected to the vagus nerve, and has been shown to enhance a person’s ability to recognize internal body signals such as their heartbeat.