# Fact-check: PASSED

Source: https://research.dreamlab.institute/vagus/  
Rounds: 2  

Cited sources (claims may quote these as well as the tracker page):

1. [Frontiers | Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation May Enhance Only Specific Aspects of the Core Executive Functions. A Randomized Crossover Trial](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2020.00523/full?utm_source=openai)
2. [Frontiers | Impact of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on cognitive flexibility as a function of task complexity](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1569472/full)

## Round 1: 2 issue(s), sent back to the writer

- line 5 "And it's one study, so grain of salt. It says nothing about consumer devices.": It's one study, and it says nothing about consumer devices. — not supported by the page (suggested: "And it's one study, so grain of salt. The tracker calls these studies early-stage.")
- line 7 "Vagus Stimulation Beats Sham": Vagus Stimulation Beats Sham — not supported by the page (suggested: "Vagus Stimulation Study vs Sham")

## Final claims

| line | claim | verdict | page quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A vagus stimulation trial beat sham on focus (executive control) after mental overload. | supported | taVNS improves executive control after high cognitive load in randomized study. |
| 2 | 62 participants got 30 minutes of 25 Hz auricular stimulation or sham; the real stimulation reduced the conflict effect and switch cost. | supported | n=62 RCT · reduced conflict effect and switch cost vs sham · 30 min, 25 Hz |
| 3 | The field's evidence base is mostly vendor claims and open-label pilots. | supported | The evidence base consists primarily of vendor claims, small studies, and open-label trials |
| 4 | A systematic review found no significant difference from sham for depression, so outcomes depend on the condition. | supported | a systematic review noted no significant difference between VNS and sham for depression, underscoring that outcomes are condition-specific |
| 5 | The tracker calls these studies early-stage. | supported | These add to the evidence base but remain early-stage. |