Science
WHAT is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body.
It is part of the parasympathetic nervous system.
It plays a vital role in maintaining the balance between the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) and sympathetic (“fight or flight”) responses, the two antagonistic components of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
It is responsible for calming the body and regulating various involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and immune responses.
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WHY is stimulating vagus nerve important?
Stimulating the vagus nerve activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which regulates mood, digestion, immune response, and cardiovascular health.
It restores ANS balance, essential for sleep quality, relaxation, and overall well-being.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) also modulates brain activity, enhances anti-inflammatory responses, and influences neurotransmitters, resulting in improved sleep, psychological stability, pain relief, and increased vitality.
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HOW does ZenoWell VNS work？
ZenoWell utilizes non-invasive transcutaneous stimulation to target the auricular branch of the vagus nerve—the only branch of the vagus nerve located on the body's surface, mainly distributed in the cavum concha (stimulated by Electrode ①) and cymba concha (stimulated by Electrode ②) of the ear.
By stimulating this branch, ZenoWell’s transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) effectively regulates both physiological and psychological states.
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Science evidence about HRV
HRV: A Window into Your Body’s Balance
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measures the tiny, natural fluctuations in the time intervals between consecutive heartbeats. Unlike a steady metronome, a healthy heart speeds up slightly when you inhale and slows down when you exhale.
These variations arise from the dynamic interplay between the sympathetic nervous system (SNS, “fight-or-flight”) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS, “rest-and-digest”).
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HRV Links to Sleep and Stress
HRV reflects sleep quality and stress resilience. Adequate sleep boosts parasympathetic (PNS) activity, enhancing HRV during deep sleep as the body repairs itself. Poor sleep lowers HRV, increasing fatigue.
Higher HRV signals stress resilience; lower HRV indicates sympathetic (SNS) dominance—triggering adrenaline and reducing variability. Chronic SNS overactivity from prolonged stress depletes HRV, raising risks of burnout and cardiovascular strain.
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HRV and the Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve (parasympathetic) controls HRV: strong vagal tone increases heart variability during relaxation. Deep breathing and meditation enhance vagal tone, raising HRV; chronic stress or inflammation lowers it by weakening vagal function.
This explains why vagus-focused practices (e.g., yoga, cold exposure, breathwork) improve HRV and alleviate stress or insomnia. HRV acts as a “vagal health meter,” reflecting your nervous system’s adaptability to stress and recovery capacity.
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TaVNS as wearable neurotech has been studied in over 1000 publications until 2024 with 30 more of our own clinical studies underway. Findings so far show the positive effects of taVNS on:
Sleep Quality
50%↑
Stress
45%↓
HRV
12%↑
Emotion
45%↑
Headache
30%↓
Fatigue
35%↓
How Do You Know ZenoWell Activates the Vagus Nerve?
We know many home remedies, activities, and products that claim to activate the vagus nerve, but can we prove it?
Yes, we can!
A recent study highlights that taVNS effectively modulates both the autonomic nervous system and the central nervous system.
Notably, a significant increase in heart rate variance (HRV) was observed in the majority of participants. Read more about it here.
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Solid Evidence of ZenoWell Modulating Vagus Nerve Activity
ZenoWell's taVNS efficiently activates the parasympathetic nervous system, rapidly boosting HRV.
In our repetition study involving over 60 healthy participants, just 5 minutes of ZenoWell’s taVNS consistently enhanced parasympathetic activity, with a significant rise in HRV (measured by RMSSD), as shown in the figure above. The test-retest reliability was as high as 0.85. This demonstrates its potential for fast, reliable stress recovery and autonomic balance.
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More than HRV...
Studies with neuroimaging tools (EEG, ERP, fMRI) show that taVNS therapy boosts the body's natural relaxation response (vagal tone) while helping the brain better sense internal signals. It also increases norepinephrine activity, a chemical linked to focus and stress management.
These combined effects improve nervous system balance, reduce body-wide inflammation, and may help treat fatigue, chronic pain, and gut-brain axis disorders.
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ZenoWell taVNS Journey Across Time
Four Mechanisms of ZenoWell’s taVNS
Restore ANS Balance and Modulate Neurotransmitter
Enhances parasympathetic activity while calming an overactive sympathetic activity, restoring balance to ANS.
Modulates the release of key neurotransmitters, including melatonin, serotonin, dopamine, endorphinsetal.
Modulating Brain Activity and Anti-inflammation Responses
Regulates activity and functional connectivity in brain regions associated with sleep, stress, and pain.
Reduces inflammation responses by activate 3 key anti-inflammatory pathways.
Experience Long-Lasting Effects
Scientifically designed electrodes and advanced materials deliver optimal and comfortable stimulation.
Consistent use brings long-lasting benefits: 7 days to reduce sleep latency, 14 days to improve sleep quality and reduce stress, and 21 days to refresh both body and mind.
Beyond Sleep Benefits
ZenoWell leverages cutting-edge neuromodulation technology to restore inner balance and support your body’s natural healing and recovery.
ZenoWell is your lifelong companion in wellness.
Clinical Studies of taVNS & ZenoWELL Patents
"ZenoWell's neurotechnology platform enhances cognitive focus, situational awareness, and sleep regulation through peer-validated, non-pharmaceutical methods that integrate seamlessly with circadian rhythms without adverse effects. Our ongoing clinical trials continue to confirm these breakthrough outcomes. For those interested in taVNS clinical and foundational research, we welcome collaboration inquiries."
