Vagus Nerve Stimulating Headphones

The headphones that get you HIGH: $279 Nervana device stimulates nerves in the ear to trigger the release of feel-good hormones

• Nervana device stimulates the vagus nerve in the left ear through earphone
• Its makers say this stimulates the release of calming neurotransmitters
• It works with user's existing music device, such as a phone or MP3 player
• Three different modes mean the device can sync signals to the music

By RYAN O'HARE FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 10:24, 21 March 2016


The familiar tactic of sticking in your headphones to transport you away from rush-hour commute could soon be kicked up a gear, thanks to a new stress-busting music gadget.

Nervana is a device that stimulates nerves in the ear while you listen to music, triggering the release of hormones in the brain that promise to chill you out and make you feel good.

It works by using electrical pulses, delivered via one of the headphones, to stimulate the vagus nerve in your left ear, and the company claims it could help to 'increase calm and reduce stress'.


The Nervana (pictured) stimulates the vagus nerve while you listen to music, triggering the release of neurotransmitters in the brain which promises to 'increase calm and reduce stress'. In particular, it helps trigger the release of serotonin and the 'cuddle' hormone oxytocin

The vagus nerves run from the brainstem through the body and are involved in a wide range of nervous functions, relaying conscious and unconscious signals to and from the major organs.

• Stimulating the nerves has been used as a treatment for epilepsy and depression, often involving minor surgery to implant a stimulating electrode.

It helps trigger the release of serotonin and the 'cuddle' hormone oxytocin.


HOW NERVANA WORKS
The Nervana is a device that stimulates nerves in the ear while you listen to music, triggering the release of neurotransmitters in the brain which promises to chill you out.

It works by using electrical pulses, delivered via one of the headphones, to stimulate the vagus nerve in your left ear, and claims it could help to 'increase calm and reduce stress'.

The Florida-based firm behind the device recommends twice daily sessions of between 15 to 45 minutes, when using the Nervana – the name being a play on nerve and nirvana.

The Nervana has three modes of play.

A 'music mode' analyses the incoming signal from the users own music device, so the listener can 'feel the music'.

An 'ambient mode' uses an internal microphone to pick up sound from the wearer's environment, such as at a concert.

And the third option is a 'formula mode', which stimulates the vagus nerve without music, using predefined signal patterns.

But this device claims to be a non-invasive approach of the same method.

Just plug your music device into the black box of the Nervana and it changes the signal of the music being played, sending out music through the right earphone and a modified signal through the left earphone, depending on the music.

The earphones are colour-coded as well to avoid any mix up, with the blue headphone for the left ear delivering the electrical stimulation.

According to its makers, it has been tested on 'hundreds of people' and it is 'proven to be safe'.

However, it is marketed as a consumer, rather medical, device.

On its Indiegogo crowdfunding page, the firm explained: 'When the left earbud is placed in the left ear and the Nervana generator is turned on, the electrical signal beats to whatever music is being experienced by the user, whether supplied to the generator through a user's phone or through the environment, such as in a concert hall.

'The electrical signal stimulates the Vagus nerve, which could result in the release of neurotransmitters (the body's natural feel-good messengers).

'For most users, the results are increased feelings of calm and relaxation and stress relief.'


The device (pictured) changes the signal of the music being played, sending out music through the right earphone, and a modified signal through the left earphone which stimulates a nerve in the ear

WHAT IS THE VARGAS NERVE?
Nervana is a device that stimulates nerves in the ear while you listen to music, triggering the release of hormones in the brain that promise to chill you out and make you feel good.

The vagus nerves run from the brainstem through the body and are involved in a wide range of nervous functions, relaying conscious and unconscious signals to and from the major organs.

Stimulating the nerves has been used as a treatment for epilepsy and depression, often involving minor surgery to implant a stimulating electrode.

But this device claims to be a non-invasive approach of the same method.

A promotional video on the site depicts users reporting feelings of euphoria after using the device for a short period.

The Florida-based firm behind the device recommends twice daily sessions of between 15 to 45 minutes, when using the Nervana – the name being a play on nerve and nirvana.

But a review on The Verge reported a feeling of almost being high, as well as a 'stinging' or buzzing in the ear after use, similar to sticking a 9V battery on your tongue.

The website also sounds a note of caution after testing the device.

As branches of the vagus nerve stimulate the heart, there could potentially be consequences on heart rate of some users.

The device was on show earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where co-founder and boss, Ami Brannon, told AFP: 'We send a signal into the vagus nerve which produces dopamine, and that relaxes you.



The earphones are colour-coded as well to avoid any mix up, with the blue headphone for the left ear delivering the electrical stimulation. The device has already racked up close to 1,000 supporters on Indiegogo, raising just under $260,000 (£180,650) and It is currently available from $279 (£194)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...es-nerves-ear-trigger-feel-good-hormones.html

 

do you think this could really help us?

 

Not that I am any expert, but sounds like a bunch of baloney to me. Don't see how it would be physically possible to stimulate your vagus nerve through your outer ear. VNS treatments used in epilepsy, etc, are invasive for a reason.

 

Oh my god charlatans are any where

 

Their founders team looks promising after reading some of the bios.
(http://experiencenervana.com/founders-and-team-of-nervana/)

The device has been tested by visitors of the CES 2016.
You can watch some of the reviews on the YouTube channel of Nervana (they seem legit, don't think these vistors got something for their statements):

https://goo.gl/4e16AQ

“I felt the electricity go into my arm, and everything was tingling there, but the best moment for me was afterwards when I finished and stood up.” “I felt like I reached a personal high point. I couldn’t stop smiling or laughing. I was like, ‘Oh wow’. For about five minutes, my happiness level was a 10 out of 10. Then it got foggier, but I was still unusually happy for about an hour.”
(Source: http://futurism.com/this-startup-gets-you-high-on-dopamine-no-exercise-required/)

NERVANA Indiegogo Video

Their ad spot on YouTube looks a bit pretentious. All actors are perfectly styled and sitting in a more or less luxury accommodation.
After watching the spot I have the impression "We want your money" instead of "This is a medical revolution in non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation". Nevertheless this pimped ad spot can be evaluated as usual for such an US-American Startup based in sunny Lake Worth, Florida. So I won't express any prejudgement because of their ad spot.

Let's give it a try.

 

If i could sell my mp3 for 259 $ it will be great. Sorry I didn't see any science here

 

Hm...2000 thousand and something for the mutebutton or 179 pound for this? Yeah, I'm gonna go for this. I think this is rather promising and the founders are legit. Anyway, I'd rather be optimistic than pessimistic.

 

Well, go for it, @Danny Boy, and let us know. My attitude about these things is if you have the money to lose and it has a low potential for harm (which seems to be the case here), feel free to give it a try. I certainly spent money on stuff that didn't work but it didn't hurt me.

 

It's not that much monies...I mean, mutebutton is far more expensive and honestly, people have said it elevates mood, so it's better than nothing. As I said, the founders are sound and honestly, I'm excited to try it.

 

Your attitude is what has made the infamous Antinitus plastic patch scammers millionaires.

 

Firstly, this isn't marketed for tinnitus, secondly I am totally against those snake oil patches.

 

Founders & Team
Two brothers, both physicians, had an idea to take the best part of a surgically implanted nerve stimulation device and to provide it to users in a way that was entirely non-invasive. Drs. Richard and Daniel Cartledge formed NERVANA LLC, including medical and intellectual property experts and engineers to make that dream a reality. The team created NERVANA – a breakthrough device that accesses the Vagus nerve without surgery or percutaneous action and does so in harmony with tunes selected by the user.


Dr. Richard Cartledge
MD, Co-Founder
Dr. Cartledge has two decades of experience in inventing, designing, and manufacturing cutting edge medical devices. He is a founder of Smisson-Cartledge Biomedical and inventor of Thermacor 1200, an FDA-approved rapid infusion and blood warming device. The Thermacor 1200 was awarded four Department of Defense appropriations during the course of development. His device has saved countless lives worldwide. Dr. Cartledge is also a founder of Mitral Solutions, which developed the first adjustable mitral valve annuloplasty ring. He has more than 80 issued and pending patents. Currently, he is the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, is a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, a specialist in heart valve surgery and a regional pioneer of minimally invasive heart valve surgery. He performs on and off-pump coronary bypass surgery, complex mitral valve repair, thoracic aortic surgery, minimally invasive lung surgery, as well as countless other innovative procedures. Dr. Cartledge is fellowship trained in cardiovascular surgery from New York Hospital/Weill Cornel Medical Center and in thoracic surgical oncology from Memorial Sloan Kettering. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at Lehigh University.


Dr. Daniel Cartledge
MD, Co-Founder
Double-board-certified in Pain Management and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dr. Daniel Cartledge specializes in interventional pain medicine and is an expert in neuro-electrical therapies to treat patients with chronic pain. Dr. Cartledge has been practicing interventional pain management for eight years. His experience prompted him to invent a form of Vagus nerve stimulation to consumers to promote their own wellness.


Ami Brannon
Co-Founder, CEO
Mrs. Brannon holds degrees in both Nursing and Psychology from the University of Central Florida. She brings with her almost 20 years of leadership experience in hospital administration and healthcare sector marketing. With a long history of project management, Mrs. Brannon has procured and directed specialized teams to execute construction and implementation of highly complex technologies to advance tertiary and quaternary care hospitals’ market share. As an entrepreneur, she is passionate about creating scientifically supported products that are not only widely accessible to consumers, but ones that can enhance the enjoyment of life in today’s uniquely complex world. Mrs. Brannon looks forward to creating jobs and fostering the fledgling tech industry in her native South Florida community.


Gregory L. Mayback
Co-Founder
Mr. Mayback has a double degree in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics from Vanderbilt University’s Engineering School. After working for government contractors on “Star Wars” research in Huntsville, Alabama, in the 1980’s, Mr. Mayback attended law school at the University of Miami in his home state of Florida. In addition to being one of the founding members of NERVANA, LLC, he has been a Registered Patent Attorney for almost twenty years, during which time he procured over 1,450 patents in a variety of technology areas. Mr. Mayback was the plaintiff’s lead patent attorney in the patent infringement litigation of Powell v. The Home Depot, 07-cv-80435-Hurley-Hopkins (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida), which returned a verdict in plaintiff’s favor of over $24 million. And, for this success, he received the “2010 Most Effective Lawyers” Award from the editorial staff of the South Florida Daily Business Review. In addition to his patent practice, Mr. Mayback provides advice to clients on all intellectual property matters.


Kermit Arthur Falk
Director of Engineering
Mr. Falk has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master of Science in Materials Science & Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He has a strong passion for engineering, design and entrepreneurship. Prior to joining the NERVANA team, he worked in the nanotechnology field for a start-up company near Tampa Bay, Florida. He successfully completed an ARPA•e project that demonstrated membrane-based dehumidification and was subsequently awarded funding for a Department of Defense chiller project. Mr. Falk has experience developing technology at both the Research & Development and commercially available levels.

 

Where are the actual scientific double placebo tested papers to prove this things works?

The Verge doesn't seem particularly impressed:

These headphones use electricity to chill you out

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auricular_branch_of_vagus_nerve

I'm pretty sure you can zap that pretty easily through the ear (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25164906) -- what effect this might have on tinnitus is another story.

But, the people marketing this device, aren't saying anything about tinnitus...

 

The easiest non-invasive way I've found to stimulate the vagus nerve is through something called Ujjayi Breathing, a calming breathing technique used in yoga practice or during meditation. Has all sorts of benefits for mind and body, and best of all it's free.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ujjayi_breath
http://twistedtrunkyoga.com/news/the-neurophysiology-of-yoga-breath-and-its-effects/

 

Huh. Thanks for the pubmed link, @linearb. As I said, I definitely am no expert...
So turns out this company is right in my own backyard.

This part seems a little spooky, though!
But a review on The Verge reported a feeling of almost being high, as well as a 'stinging' or buzzing in the ear after use, similar to sticking a 9V battery on your tongue.

 

I'm not going to take time to read through abstracts, but it seems they're doing something similar to SaluStim which is much more expensive. Notice the left ear is used to insert the SaluStim. The MicroTransponder company in Texas also attached a cord to deliver stimulation to the left ear.

If someone with funds is willing to try this, I'll remain optimistic that it just might work. Although I have to admit, it isn't pleasant to think of a sensation like sticking my tongue on a 9V terminal to see if it still has a charge.

 

There is a seminar on Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Tinnitus, from The ATA.

Sept 13th 8PM EDT

http://view.s7.exacttarget.com/?qs=...5271ab6e2b452c6ff06f2984798639aad7a01c43ead04

But I'm not sure if this Device is covered

 

Their HQ is down the road from my house, I could bike there. I spoke with some people there and they have no claims about it being used as a tinnitus treatment, but have been getting interested. I asked since I'm so close if I could be a test subject and they said they would look into it. They are really busy shipping units out to Indiegogo supporters at the moment.

 

Maybe mix Nervana with tones higher and lower than your tinnitus. A DYI version of
http://www.utdallas.edu/ctech/projects-overview/vagus-nerve-stimulation-for-tinnitus/