Stimulating the right vagus nerve to tap brain reward and movement circuits
Peripheral nerve stimulation for activation of dopaminergic nuclei
Researchers are trying short bursts of electrical stimulation on the right-side vagus nerve to turn on brain reward and motor centers that might help people with movement problems or appetite/weight issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11234236 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Your vagus nerves carry signals from the gut and other organs up to the brain, and recent work suggests the right and left nerves connect differently. This project focuses on whether stimulating the right cervical vagus nerve specifically can activate dopamine-rich reward and motor regions in the brain. The team will use experiments that map nerve connections and measure brain responses to right versus left vagus stimulation to understand how signals travel. That knowledge would guide whether right-side nerve stimulation could be developed into treatments for movement disorders or metabolic/appetite conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with movement disorders (for example Parkinsonian conditions) or patients with appetite/weight-related disorders who are interested in neuromodulation approaches would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without disorders of motor or reward circuits, or those who cannot receive nerve stimulation (for example due to incompatible medical devices or health risks), are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a new neuromodulation approach that targets brain reward and motor circuits to help people with movement disorders or problems with appetite and weight control.
How similar studies have performed: Left‑side vagus nerve stimulation is already used for epilepsy and depression and shows promise for weight loss, while animal and early lab studies suggest the right vagus may activate dopamine circuits but right-sided clinical use is largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Richardson, United States
- University of Texas Dallas — Richardson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thorn, Catherine a — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Thorn, Catherine a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.