SHARPER SENSE

The science

Clear science, from the neck up.

Nerves in the side of the neck carry signals into the brainstem. Stimulating them engages the locus coeruleus, a small cluster of neurons that releases norepinephrine across the brain. Norepinephrine drives attention and helps the brain process sensory information clearly, separating signal from noise.

01

Neck nerves

Vagus, greater auricular, and transverse cervical branches, stimulated through the skin with a comfortable electric field.

02

Brainstem relay

Peripheral nerve stimulation activates the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) in the brainstem, relaying the signal to arousal centers.

03

Norepinephrine

The NTS pathway activates the locus coeruleus, the cortex’s sole source of norepinephrine, the neurochemical underlying attention.

04

Sharper processing

Sensory neurons encode the details that matter, more selectively and with less noise.

Human studies

Sham-controlled. Blinded participants. Published in peer-reviewed journals.

Nature Scientific Reports · 2024

Transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation improves sensory performance in humans: a randomized controlled crossover pilot study

Auditory performance improved 37% and visual performance 23% versus sham.

Study details
Design
Three sham-controlled experiments
Auditory
Auditory performance improved 37% versus sham
Visual
Visual performance improved 23% versus sham
Read the paper

Neuromodulation · 2025

Transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation improves speech comprehension in noise: a crossover, placebo-controlled study

43% higher odds of understanding speech in noise versus placebo.

Study details
Design
Two cohorts of adults aged 60 to 84, sham (placebo)-controlled crossover
Result
Odds of understanding speech in noise rose 43% (QuickSIN) and 20% (AzBio) versus placebo. Speech-in-noise thresholds improved by 0.76 dB (QuickSIN) and 0.38 dB (AzBio). Half of participants improved by at least the minimum clinically important difference (1 dB).
Read the paper

Independent research

Other labs validating the same mechanism of action.

Communications Biology · 2021

Vagus nerve stimulation at the neck improves performance under sleep loss

In 40 people kept awake 34 hours, it improved arousal and multitasking and lowered fatigue versus sham. Air Force Research Laboratory.

Read the paper

Current Biology · 2021

Vagus nerve stimulation activates the brain’s arousal systems

In mice, it widened pupils, often increased movement, and activated noradrenergic and cholinergic systems across the cortex. University of Oregon.

Read the paper

Experimental Neurology · 2017

Vagus nerve stimulation activates the norepinephrine system underlying attention

In rats, brief bursts drove rapid locus coeruleus firing, peaking about 450% above baseline; those neurons release the norepinephrine that drives focus. UT Dallas.

Read the paper

Foundational research

Grounded in research at Columbia University.

Our founders’ papers behind the patch: how the brain’s norepinephrine system sharpens sensory processing, and how stimulating the vagus nerve engages it.

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