Persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) affect a significant proportion of individuals following a concussion, leading to debilitating impacts on their quality of life and work capacity. Currently, effective treatments for PPCS are limited, despite their lasting and debilitating impact. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, holds promise as a therapeutic option by leveraging the bottom-up modulation of brain activity via the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. This study aims to evaluate the neurophysiological and clinical effects of taVNS on brain activity and symptomatology in patients with PPCS through a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial.
Age between 18 and 65;
Between 4 weeks and 1-year post-diagnosis of a concussion;
Score equal or above 16 on the Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire;
Intact skin at the electrode site.
History of chronic neurological or psychological disorders (still untreated 6 months preceding inclusion);
Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
Presence of an active implant (e.g., pacemaker, cochlear implant);
History of myocardial infarction or cardiac arrhythmia;
University of Liege
Lead sponsor
University Hospital Sart Tilman, Liege
Collaborator