OBJECTIVES: Several novel and minimally invasive techniques to stimulate the brain have recently developed. Among these newer somatic interventions, vagus nerve stimulation(VNS) is regarded as a promising tool in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders. This article reviews the history, methodology, and the future of VNS technique and its emerging research and therapeutic applications in the field of neuropsychiatry. METHODS: Wide ranged literature reviews and discussion with pioneering researchers were performed. RESULTS: VNS has been used in the treatment of refractory seizure disorder and depression. There are some reasons to hope that VNS might have other therapeutic applications in neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as advanced understanding about the pathophysiology of these disorders. CONCLUSION: Regardless of its clinical role as a new therapeutic technique, the capacity of VNS as a research tool to alter brain activity should lead to important advances in the understanding of brain-behavior relationships.
Brain ; Depression ; Epilepsy ; Hope ; Neuropsychiatry* ; Seizures ; Vagus Nerve Stimulation* ; Vagus Nerve*