Auricular vagus nerve stimulation facilitates contextual fear extinction via insular-mPFC pathway without affecting reconsolidation
Hiroshi Kuniishi, Eri Takeuchi, Okito Hashimoto, Mitsuhiko Yamada, Masayuki Sekiguchi, Hideo Matsuzaki
This study shows auricular vagus nerve stimulation enhances extinction learning of contextual fear memory by activating the posterior insular cortex to medial prefrontal cortex circuit, without affecting reconsolidation.
bioRxiv · Oct 13, 2026 · PreprintNeuroscience