Key result
tVNS enhances divergent thinking over sham but shows inconclusive effects on convergent thinking.
Why the study?
Does transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation improve creative performance in healthy young volunteers?
RCT (n=80)
sham-controlled
between-group
Does transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation improve creative performance in healthy young volunteers?
Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation enhances divergent thinking, suggesting a causal role of the vagus nerve in creative performance.
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tVNS may noninvasively boost divergent thinking in healthy adults; extends causal evidence for vagal modulation of cognition.
Colzato et al. (2018) conducted an RCT in Healthy (n=80). Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) vs. Sham stimulation was evaluated on Creative performance (divergent and convergent thinking). Active transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) enhanced divergent thinking compared to sham stimulation, while effects on convergent thinking were inconclusive.
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