Vagus Nerve Stimulation – New Insight into the Antinociceptive Effect

The antinociceptive effect of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is well known from animal studies. Beyond the inhibitory influence that the vagus nerve exerts via its widespread central connections, recently a novel exocrine influence of vagal afferents on nociceptors has been described. Our studies investigate a possible antinociceptive effect of VNS in men and provide insight into the underlying physiological mechanisms. Initially, we investigated pain in 10 patients and 12 controls before and twice after implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator, by using different experimental stimuli including noxious heat, toni…