It very interesting because vagus nerve theory has been seen as unproven and is often cast upon with doubt as we don’t understand the underlying mechanism - a lot of PTSD treatments are along those lines.
I think they just don’t work universally/don’t understand the myriad pathways of presentation and are bad at predicting them - IE PTSD is a set of symptoms but we try to see it as a set of causes). There’s a big problem with “evidence based” because many fall into the cracks.
An implant is quite a thing though - looking at the wiki for VNS it seems to be seen as effective for a whole array of things, but without understanding why.
aucisson_masque · 8h ago
So basically it's a vibrator on the neck part of the vagus nerve that is controlled by an app ?
Not dismissing the device, but I'm wondering why a massage can't do the job ? It could even be done by the patient if explained how to.
47282847 · 6h ago
Many PTSD patients have difficulty with being touched (understandably). Even self-touch can be difficult if the own body is not emotionally felt as safe. Devices like this could be useful here as a bridge towards being touched.
dialup_sounds · 5h ago
It's not a vibrator, it's an implanted electrode. The neck band is the wireless power source.
j45 · 4h ago
Interesting they would implant it instead of an on-neck device.
I have seen these types of devices for sale (Sensate, etc) and wondered if they provide benefit to those using them.
htamas · 3h ago
I was seeing a neurochiropractor for a concussion last year and she used one of those on-neck devices to lower my heartrate in-between rehab exercises. It worked very well in my experience.
I think they just don’t work universally/don’t understand the myriad pathways of presentation and are bad at predicting them - IE PTSD is a set of symptoms but we try to see it as a set of causes). There’s a big problem with “evidence based” because many fall into the cracks.
An implant is quite a thing though - looking at the wiki for VNS it seems to be seen as effective for a whole array of things, but without understanding why.
Not dismissing the device, but I'm wondering why a massage can't do the job ? It could even be done by the patient if explained how to.
I have seen these types of devices for sale (Sensate, etc) and wondered if they provide benefit to those using them.