When rats had their vagus nerve stimulated, they were less inclined to seek cocaine. This implies that vagus nerve stimulation could potentially be used to treat drug addiction and prevent relapses in substance use disorders.
The vagus nerve serves as a network of nerve fibers linking the brain to internal organs. Previous studies have demonstrated that using electrical devices known as vagus nerve stimulators to stimulate this nerve can be effective in treating a range of conditions, including depression and opioid withdrawal. The team led by Christopher Driskill at the University of Texas at Dallas explored the impact of vagus nerve stimulation on…