Vagus Nerve Stimulators

About this episode

<p>Do Vagus Nerve Stimulators help your mental health?</p><p>The vagus nerve could be one of the most important body parts you might never have heard of. It's a large nerve that connects major organs like the heart and lungs to the brain and studies have found that stimulating it with electrical pulses can lead to dramatic improvements in some people with depression and other mental health conditions. Those trials were for medical devices implanted into the chest, but listener Karin has seen commercially available versions that you wear over your ear. </p><p>But do they work? Karin joins Greg in the studio along with leading experts in the field to do a deep-dive into the studies and separate out the science fact from the marketing fiction.</p><p>All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.</p><p>RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT</p>