Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Language Learning

This chapter discusses methodological issues when applying transcutaneous stimulation of the aural branch of the vagus nerve (taVNS) to language research. We review a handful of studies that have investigated language learning using taVNS. Subheading 1 provides a general introduction and describes the potential impact of taVNS on language research. Subheading 2 discusses methodological considerations of applying the taVNS technique to language research, including the preparation of linguistic materials, the eligibility of participants, experimental design, types of language training, assessment of language learning, and parameter settings of taVNS. Subheading 3 gives examples and summarizes results from previous taVNS language studies that differ from one another with respect to the methods used. Subheading 4 concludes this chapter with future directions for applying the taVNS technique to language research.