Vagus nerve stimulation is a neuromodulatory method that directly affects the functioning of the
autonomic nervous system and has potential therapeutic effects. The tenth cranial nerve, the
vagus nerve, transmits information about the state of internal organs and homeostasis, with most
of its fibers being afferent and a smaller part being efferent. Vagus nerve stimulation can
modulate heart rate, influence reflex pathways, and regulate the sympathetic-parasympathetic
balance between physiological and stress states.
The main purpose of the master's thesis was to investigate the effects of vagus nerve stimulation
on autonomic regulation during physical exercise. The study involved 5 subjects who performed
exercise on a bicycle while undergoing transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation at different
intensities of physical exertion. The results did not show a statistically significant effect of
stimulation on heart rate and heart rate variability. The conclusion lists possible corrections for
further research in this direction and proposals for extension to a larger population.
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