Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• The annual publication volume on vagus nerve stimulation in stroke rehabilitation has shown an overall upward trend from 2012 to 2025, with China leading in the number of publications. • Research hotspots include stroke, upper limb function, neuroplasticity, and neuroprotective effects, with burst keywords emphasizing motor function and cortical plasticity. • Domestic research teams and institutions are more dispersed with less collaboration compared to international counterparts, indicating a need for enhanced cooperation. • Future research directions may focus on non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation and combined rehabilitation approaches, along with mechanistic studies.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The vagus nerve stimulation technique enhances cortical excitability and neuroplasticity by stimulating the vagus nerve. Its application in stroke rehabilitation has received widespread attention. Currently, there is no study analyzing the research status and development trend of vagus nerve stimulation in the field of stroke rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current development status, research hotspots, and development trends of vagus nerve stimulation in the field of stroke rehabilitation, in order to provide a reference for future research and optimization of clinical rehabilitation plans for stroke. METHODS: We retrieved relevant literature on the application of vagus nerve stimulation in stroke rehabilitation from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, PubMed, and Web of Science Core Collection databases from January 1, 2012 to February 1, 2025. Using CiteSpace 6.3.R1 software, we performed visualized analyses of publication volumes, countries/regions and institutions, authors, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, and keyword bursts. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 297 articles were included, including 86 in Chinese and 211 in English. The annual publication volume on vagus nerve stimulation in stroke rehabilitation has generally increased both domestically and internationally. China had the highest number of publications. The most prolific authors in Chinese and English were Zhao Jingjun and Hays Seth A, respectively. The institutions with the most publications in Chinese and English were Chongqing Medical University and the University of Texas System, respectively. Universities are the main contributors to research output. Domestic research teams and institutions are more dispersed than international ones, with less collaboration among teams. Keyword co-occurrence and clustering results showed that research mainly focuses on stroke, upper limb function, neuroplasticity, and neuroprotective effects. Burst keywords were mainly related to motor function and cortical plasticity. Overall, research directions primarily revolve around the effects of vagus nerve stimulation on motor, swallowing, cognitive functions after stroke, and the exploration of mechanisms for improving neurological function. Future research may focus on non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in stroke rehabilitation and the combined application of vagus nerve stimulation with other rehabilitation techniques, as well as exploring related mechanisms.
1. Introduction
Stroke, including hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, has shown an increasing incidence and disability rate nationwide. Effective rehabilitation measures can significantly improve patient function and reduce disability. Given that functional recovery after stroke is influenced by neuroplasticity, neuromodulation techniques have been widely applied and studied in stroke rehabilitation in recent years. These techniques can regulate the cerebral cortex and motor neurons through electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation, or vagus nerve stimulation, thereby enhancing neural excitability and plasticity to aid functional recovery. Among them, vagus nerve stimulation has been shown to promote neurological recovery in stroke patients.
The vagus nerve is a mixed nerve, the 10th cranial nerve, and the longest and most widely distributed nerve in the human body. It is a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system and participates in the regulation of emotions, pain, and inflammation through a complex neuroendocrine-immune network. Vagus nerve stimulation is a novel neuromodulation technique that stimulates the vagus nerve via surgically implanted devices (cervical electrodes and chest pulse generators). This stimulation can modulate brain activity and promote plastic changes. Currently, the U.S. FDA has approved vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy and depression. The technique transmits neural impulses to the nucleus tractus solitarius, which then synapses with brain regions such as the locus coeruleus, parabrachial nucleus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus, thereby increasing cortical excitability and neuroplasticity. In recent years, reports on the use of this technique to improve cognitive, swallowing, and motor functions after stroke have increased annually, but bibliometric analyses are scarce.
CiteSpace software is an interactive information visualization analysis tool that analyzes and visualizes literature data to explore research frontiers, disciplinary evolution trends, and knowledge domain structures. To date, no study has systematically reviewed the application of vagus nerve stimulation in stroke rehabilitation. This article uses CiteSpace to conduct a bibliometric analysis of relevant domestic and international literature, aiming to explore the research status, hotspots, and development trends of vagus nerve stimulation in stroke rehabilitation, thereby providing a basis for future research and application in this field.
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Wang Xiaojing, Wei Jingyi, Liu Xihua (2026). A visualized analysis of vagus nerve stimulation in the field of stroke rehabilitation. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research. https://doi.org/10.12307/2026.21606
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main objective of this study?
The main objective is to analyze the current development status, research hotspots, and development trends of vagus nerve stimulation in the field of stroke rehabilitation, providing a reference for future research and optimization of clinical rehabilitation plans.
What databases were searched in this study?
The databases searched included China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang, PubMed, and Web of Science Core Collection, covering literature from January 1, 2012 to February 1, 2025.
What software was used for the analysis?
CiteSpace 6.3.R1 software was used to perform visualized analyses of publication volumes, countries/regions and institutions, authors, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, and keyword bursts.
What are the main research hotspots identified in this field?
The main research hotspots include stroke, upper limb function, neuroplasticity, and neuroprotective effects. Burst keywords mainly relate to motor function and cortical plasticity.
What are the future research directions suggested by this study?
Future research may focus on non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in stroke rehabilitation, combined application with other rehabilitation techniques, and exploration of related mechanisms.
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