Background: In recent years, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) has shown promise as a neurostimulation method to advance health. Yet, the underlying mechanisms of tVNS, especially its efferent effects on the autonomic nervous system, remain unclear. Here we build on previous work showing that tVNS at the tragus of the auricle enhanced baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) in healthy young men. Objective: In the current pre-registered trial, we aimed to verify the efferent effects of tVNS, by testing whether tVNS at the cymba concha of the auricle enhances BRS in a sample of healthy young men and women. Method: Seventeen men and 16 women were tested in a placebo-controlled within subjects experiment. BRS, heart rate variability (HRV) and respiration rate were measured during sham stimulation or tVNS. Results: There were no statistically significant effects of tVNS on BRS, HRV or respiration rate compared to sham stimulation. Conclusion: Our findings contradict those of a previous study, and more research will have to be carried out to increase our understanding of how tVNS could promote health.
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