Researchers at the Neuroscience Institute of New York University Grossman School of Medicine report that activating the vagus nerve can sharpen auditory perception in mice. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, explores how brain signals tied to attention and learning can be shaped by targeted nerve stimulation. Vagus nerve stimulation, or VNS, is already used around the world to treat epilepsy and certain mood disorders, and scientists are actively investigating its potential to augment learning, memory, and sensory processing across diverse tasks. The new work adds a detailed look at how inducing vagal activity influences auditory discrimination in a controlled animal model, helping to map the neural pathways that support perceptual learning.
To understand the biology, it helps to know what the vagus nerve does. It is one of the body’s longest and most complex nerves, serving as a bi-directional conduit between the brain and many organs. When stimulated, this nerve can alter brainwide signaling; in clinical settings VNS devices deliver periodic pulses to modulate neural circuits. In addition to approved uses for epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression, researchers are examining VNS as a potential tool for autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other conditions that influence how new information is learned and perceived. The broader idea is that vagal input can tune the brain’s readiness to encode and consolidate new experiences.
For the experiment, the researchers trained 38 mice to differentiate musical tones. The animals were conditioned until their responses stabilized and errors fell to a low baseline. After this familiarization phase, the subjects were divided into two groups. In the first group, vagus nerve stimulation was paired with the tone-learning trials; in the second, learning proceeded without stimulation. The stimulation parameters were calibrated to modulate central networks without causing distress, ensuring that any differences in performance could be attributed to changes in neural plasticity rather than general arousal.
Across the subsequent test sessions, mice that received vagus nerve stimulation showed a consistent advantage. On most tasks, they recorded about 10 percent fewer errors than during training without stimulation, indicating accelerated refinement of auditory discrimination. On the most challenging tone pairs, the error rate in the stimulated group was roughly halved, suggesting that the neural changes induced by vagal activity helped the animals tolerate harder perceptual judgments. The researchers emphasized that the improvements persisted as learning progressed, hinting at lasting changes in how the brain processes sound.
Mechanistically, the team proposed that heightened vagus nerve activity boosts activity in forebrain regions involved in attention and memory. Enhanced signaling in these areas can lead to strengthened connections in pathways that support auditory learning. The approach appears to increase neuroplasticity in the auditory cortex, meaning the brain becomes more capable of reorganizing itself in response to acoustic experience. When such plasticity is sustained, new skills can be retained more effectively and applied in future listening challenges, including distinguishing speech in noisy environments or tracking musical nuances.
Looking beyond mice, scientists say vagus nerve stimulation could have tangible human benefits if safety and efficacy are demonstrated. Potential applications range from improved musical training to better language acquisition and more seamless adaptation to cochlear implants. The findings fit into a broader line of inquiry that links autonomic nerve signaling to perceptual learning. Historical work in other animals, including geckos, has also pointed to a relationship between neural modulation and auditory processing, underscoring the idea that the brain’s plasticity is responsive to targeted stimulation.