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Mini‐Review: Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Thalamic Connectivity in Disorders of Consciousness.

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Title: Mini‐Review: Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Thalamic Connectivity in Disorders of Consciousness.
Authors: Bao, Wangxiao (AUTHOR), Zhang, Yining (AUTHOR), Dhoundiyal, Ankit (AUTHOR)
Source: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. 7/3/2026, Vol. 2026, p1-9. 9p.
Subjects: Vagus nerve stimulation, Thalamocortical system, Biomarkers, Consciousness disorders, Neuromodulation, Coma, Persistent vegetative state
Abstract: Disorders of consciousness (DoC), including coma, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS), and minimally conscious state (MCS), pose major challenges in clinical neuroscience. The thalamus serves as a central hub regulating arousal and awareness through its cortico–thalamo–cortical loops, whereas vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and its noninvasive form, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), have emerged as promising neuromodulatory strategies to promote recovery of consciousness. Recent studies suggest that VNS may influence thalamic and cortical activity, normalize neurotransmitter balance, and enhance functional connectivity across consciousness‐related networks. This mini‐review synthesizes current mechanistic insights and preliminary clinical evidence relevant to the proposed concept of a thalamic–vagal axis in the recovery of consciousness. We further discuss unresolved challenges, including heterogeneity of treatment response and stimulation parameters, and outline future directions toward biomarker‐guided and precision neuromodulation strategies. Collectively, this review underscores the translational potential of VNS‐based interventions for patients with DoC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Acta Neurologica Scandinavica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Mini‐Review: Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Thalamic Connectivity in Disorders of Consciousness.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bao%2C+Wangxiao%22">Bao, Wangxiao</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Yining%22">Zhang, Yining</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dhoundiyal%2C+Ankit%22">Dhoundiyal, Ankit</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Acta+Neurologica+Scandinavica%22">Acta Neurologica Scandinavica</searchLink>. 7/3/2026, Vol. 2026, p1-9. 9p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vagus+nerve+stimulation%22">Vagus nerve stimulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thalamocortical+system%22">Thalamocortical system</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biomarkers%22">Biomarkers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Consciousness+disorders%22">Consciousness disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neuromodulation%22">Neuromodulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coma%22">Coma</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Persistent+vegetative+state%22">Persistent vegetative state</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Disorders of consciousness (DoC), including coma, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS), and minimally conscious state (MCS), pose major challenges in clinical neuroscience. The thalamus serves as a central hub regulating arousal and awareness through its cortico–thalamo–cortical loops, whereas vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and its noninvasive form, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), have emerged as promising neuromodulatory strategies to promote recovery of consciousness. Recent studies suggest that VNS may influence thalamic and cortical activity, normalize neurotransmitter balance, and enhance functional connectivity across consciousness‐related networks. This mini‐review synthesizes current mechanistic insights and preliminary clinical evidence relevant to the proposed concept of a thalamic–vagal axis in the recovery of consciousness. We further discuss unresolved challenges, including heterogeneity of treatment response and stimulation parameters, and outline future directions toward biomarker‐guided and precision neuromodulation strategies. Collectively, this review underscores the translational potential of VNS‐based interventions for patients with DoC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Acta Neurologica Scandinavica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1155/ane/3600621
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thalamocortical system
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      – SubjectFull: Biomarkers
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      – SubjectFull: Consciousness disorders
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      – SubjectFull: Neuromodulation
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      – SubjectFull: Coma
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      – SubjectFull: Persistent vegetative state
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              Text: 7/3/2026
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              Y: 2026
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