Vagus nerve stimulation can induce widespread cortical activation, increase dopamine release, and stimulate alertness.

“In fact, it was just paper, yet another paper published the other day, which is fantastic, which is from David McCormick Lab up at the University of Oregon. It's published in Current Biology, excellent journal, showing, I'm just reading the title, vagus nerve stimulation induces widespread cortical, the neocortex and behavioral activation. I've read the paper, it's fantastic. It illustrates yet again, stimulation of the vagus increases dopamine release, increases activation of the brain alertness. It is a stimulant of alertness, it is not calming people down.”