Zapping the ear’s vagus nerve might boost motivation efficiency in severe depression
A new study suggests that delivering mild electrical pulses to the ear can help people with severe depression better judge when a task is worth the physical effort, reducing the amount of energy they waste on unrewarding choices.
A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders suggests that non-invasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) may enhance reward-effort efficiency in individuals with severe major depressive disorder. The research, led by Paul A.G. Forbes of Goethe University Frankfurt, involved 98 adults aged 35.2 years on average, of which 53 had major depressive disorder and 45 were non-depressed controls.
Participants underwent two sessions each, receiving either real tVNS or sham stimulation to different ear areas. The study found that among 19 participants with severe symptoms, tVNS improved efficiency in choosing worthwhile efforts, reducing unnecessary high-effort choices by more than half. However, among participants with milder symptoms, there was no significant change, and tVNS in the absence of symptoms increased unnecessary effort.
The researchers emphasized the need for caution in interpreting these results, as they were based on a small subgroup and a single artificial task; thus, further research is needed to confirm whether tVNS can improve everyday motivation, alleviate depression, or yield lasting benefits.
Written by urgent.news from PsyPost's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
