In discussions about vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), we talk of:
- The wandering nerve
- The vagus nerve
- The tenth cranial nerve
- CN X
These terms all refer to one and the same thing: the longest cranial nerve in the body, the nerve that connects most of your internal organs to your brain. If any nerve deserves the accolade of “the mind-body nerve,” it’s the vagus nerve. It’s responsible for transmitting signals that connect your brain to your gut, your heart, kidneys, and lungs. Without the vagus nerve, interoception wouldn’t be possible.
Key Dates in the Development of VNS
- 1988: The first human implant of an implantable vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) took place for pharmaco-resistant epilepsy.
- 1997: The US FDA approved VNS for use as an adjunctive therapy to treat medically refractory epilepsy.
- 2005: VNS was approved by the FDA for treating treatment-resistant depression.
- 2017: VNS for the acute treatment of pain associated with episodic cluster headaches approved by the FDA.
- 2018: FDA expanded its use of VNS to include the preventive treatment of cluster headaches.
- 2021: The FDA approves VNS for use in improving upper extremity motor function after chronic ischemic stroke.
