Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Bilateral Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Social Cognition

Objectives: This study aims to examine the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on social cognition.
The research aims to investigate the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on social cognition,
specifically focusing on its potential to enhance social cognition abilities, strengthen the relationship between social skills, and
influence the connection between Theory of Mind (ToM) and empathy.
Methods: One hundred volunteers (50 female, 50 male), aged between 18 and 45 years, with no psychiatric conditions and who
were suitable for vagus nerve stimulation, participated in the study. An intergroup design was employed, with participants first
completing a social interest scale. The experimental group received taVNS stimulation, while the control group received sham
stimulation. After a 20-minute stimulation period, participants completed the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and the
Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy (QCAE).
Results: The ToM results showed improvement with taVNS. However, no significant differences were observed between groups for
empathy scores, except in the peripheral responsivity subdimension, where the experimental group scored lower than the control group.
Conclusion: According to polyvagal theory, activation of the parasympathetic nervous system promotes a sense of safety, thereby
fostering social engagement. A bidirectional relationship exists between vagal activity and social behavior. The results indicate that
increased vagal activation enhanced participants’ theory of mind (ToM). This sense of security frees cognitive resources, allowing
individuals to focus on understanding others’ mental states rather than self-protection. taVNS appears to improve theory of mind
but has no significant effect on empathy or its subdimensions, except for peripheral responsivity.

LINK TO THE PUBLICATION