A recent study from University College London (UCL) has found that pairing compassion-based meditation with stimulation of the vagus nerve can significantly enhance people’s ability to be kind to themselves and remain present in the moment.
The vagus nerve, which links the brain to key organs in the chest and abdomen, is a vital part of the body’s parasympathetic ‘rest-and-digest’ system.
It helps counterbalance the stress-driven ‘fight-or-flight’ response and plays an important role in regulating emotions, social connection and other psychological processes.
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In the trial, researchers delivered a gentle electrical pulse to the tragus to activate vagus nerve fibres that lie close to the skin. This stimulation was completely painless.
A total of 120 healthy volunteers took part. They were randomly assigned to receive either active vagus nerve stimulation or a placebo stimulation applied to a different part of the ear.
Each group then participated in either self-compassion meditation sessions or an alternative training programme not focused on compassion.
Those who combined vagus nerve stimulation with compassion meditation saw a more pronounced and immediate improvement in self-compassion than participants in the other groups.
Mindfulness also improved, with gains building gradually across multiple sessions. This suggests that while certain benefits appear straight away, others develop progressively with continued practice.
The findings, published in Psychological Medicine, add to growing evidence that non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation may offer a valuable way to amplify the positive effects of meditation and other mental wellbeing practices.
Lead author Professor Sunjeev Kamboj said: “We found that delivering a small shock to the ear, to stimulate the vagus nerve, can amplify the benefits of certain meditation techniques, particularly those involved in cultivating self-compassion.
“Our findings reveal how neuroscience technology may have a meaningful impact on how we feel about ourselves.”
Professor Kamboj added: “Neurostimulation alone had limited benefits, but it may have an important role to play in supporting meditation therapies, which are increasingly used to help people with mental and physical health problems.
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“Meditation can be hard work, requiring persistence and dedication, so a way to boost and accelerate its impacts could be a welcome development for therapists and patients alike.”
The research team emphasises that more studies are required to fine-tune the method and determine how long its benefits persist.
As the current trial only involved healthy volunteers with no diagnosed mental health conditions, it remains to be seen whether the same approach could support individuals living with issues such as anxiety, depression or the effects of trauma.
In related work published in July 2025, another project co-led by a UCL researcher reported that stimulating the vagus nerve may also enhance physical fitness and increase tolerance for exercise.
