IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/nature/v643y2025i8073d10.1038_s41586-025-09028-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation aids recovery from spinal cord injury

Author

Listed:
  • Michael P. Kilgard

    (The University of Texas at Dallas
    The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Joseph D. Epperson

    (The University of Texas at Dallas
    The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Emmanuel A. Adehunoluwa

    (The University of Texas at Dallas
    The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Chad Swank

    (Baylor Scott and White Research Institute
    Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation)

  • Amy L. Porter

    (The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • David T. Pruitt

    (The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Holle L. Gallaway

    (The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Christi Stevens

    (Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation)

  • Jaime Gillespie

    (Baylor Scott and White Research Institute
    Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation)

  • Dannae Arnold

    (Baylor Scott and White Research Institute
    Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation)

  • Mark B. Powers

    (Baylor Scott and White Research Institute
    Baylor University of Medical Center)

  • Rita G. Hamilton

    (Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation)

  • Richard C. Naftalis

    (Baylor University of Medical Center)

  • Michael L. Foreman

    (Baylor University of Medical Center
    Baylor University Medical Center)

  • Jane G. Wigginton

    (The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Seth A. Hays

    (The University of Texas at Dallas
    The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Robert L. Rennaker

    (The University of Texas at Dallas
    The University of Texas at Dallas
    XNerve Medical Inc.)

Abstract

Decades of research have demonstrated that recovery from serious neurological injury will require synergistic therapeutic approaches. Rewiring spared neural circuits after injury is a long-standing goal of neurorehabilitation1,2. We hypothesized that combining intensive, progressive, task-focused training with real-time closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation (CLV) to enhance synaptic plasticity3 could increase strength, expand range of motion and improve hand function in people with chronic, incomplete cervical spinal cord injury. Here we report the results from a prospective, double-blinded, sham-controlled, randomized study combining gamified physical therapy using force and motion sensors to deliver sham or active CLV (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04288245). After 12 weeks of therapy composed of a miniaturized implant selectively activating the vagus nerve on successful movements, 19 people exhibited a significant beneficial effect on arm and hand strength and the ability to perform activities of daily living. CLV represents a promising therapeutic avenue for people with chronic, incomplete cervical spinal cord injury.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael P. Kilgard & Joseph D. Epperson & Emmanuel A. Adehunoluwa & Chad Swank & Amy L. Porter & David T. Pruitt & Holle L. Gallaway & Christi Stevens & Jaime Gillespie & Dannae Arnold & Mark B. Power, 2025. "Closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation aids recovery from spinal cord injury," Nature, Nature, vol. 643(8073), pages 1030-1036, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:643:y:2025:i:8073:d:10.1038_s41586-025-09028-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09028-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09028-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41586-025-09028-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:643:y:2025:i:8073:d:10.1038_s41586-025-09028-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.