Two paths to the body’s superhighway—the auricular branch (taVNS) and the cervical bundle (tcVNS): a narrative review

Interest in the vagus nerve has recently surged, particularly with the advent of non-invasive transcutaneous VNS (tVNS), which has broadened access and facilitated research across a range of conditions including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), migraine, chronic pain, and inflammatory disorders. tVNS primarily utilizes two pathways: the auricular branch (taVNS) and the cervical bundle (tcVNS). This paper provides a narrative review of tcVNS and taVNS stimulation. While both target the same cranial nerve, they differ significantly in their anatomical access points and methodological implementations.