Vagus Nerve Stimulation After Practice Boosts Long-Term Skill Learning in Mice

Researchers at Tohoku University found that stimulating the vagus nerve after training strengthened long-term motor learning in mice. The benefit appeared on following days, not during practice, and was linked to rhythmic blood-volume oscillations in the cerebellum. The study was published in iScience on August 25, 2026.

• VNS was applied only after training, not during the learning task
• Mice given VNS showed stronger learning by Day 5
• A single VNS session produced a two-phase vascular response in the cerebellum
• Repeated VNS created rhythmic oscillations in local blood volume