Vagus nerve stimulation enhances the effect of meditation

This nerve is involved in the work of the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for rest and recovery, and has an impact on emotional regulation, social behavior, and mental state in general.

The experiment used transcutaneous stimulation — participants applied a device to the outer ear, namely to the tragus (a small cartilage at the entrance to the ear canal), where nerve fibers pass close to the surface of the skin. The electrical impulse was painless, but powerful enough to activate the vagus nerve.

The study involved 120 healthy volunteers. One group was given real stimulation and at the same time was taught meditation to develop self-compassion. Other groups received either placebo stimulation or another form of meditation that did not focus on compassion. The results showed that the greatest effect was observed in those who combined stimulation with meditation on self—compassion – their level of self-kindness increased markedly after the first session.

In addition, participants demonstrated improvements in their level of awareness — the ability to be present in the moment and calmly observe their thoughts and feelings. The effect accumulated with each workout, which indicates the long-term effect of the method.

Professor Sanjeev Kamboj, the head of the study, explained: “We found that light ear stimulation can enhance the benefits of certain meditation practices. Meditation takes time and effort, and if its effects can be accelerated and enhanced, it can be of real help to therapists and their patients.”

However, as the authors emphasize, the study was conducted on healthy people, and now further experiments are needed to test how much the method can help people with anxiety disorders, depression, or post-traumatic stress. It also remains to be seen how long the positive effects persist after completing the course.

A separate study published in July 2025 also showed that vagus nerve stimulation can increase physical endurance and improve exercise tolerance, further confirming the broad potential benefits of this technology.