Effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on anxiety and balance under space constraints in Parkinson’s disease with anxiety syndrome: A preliminary study.

Publication date: Jul 07, 2026

BackgroundImpaired balance and anxiety are critical motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Space constraints could heighten anxiety and compromise balance, particularly in anxious individuals. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) has potential for modulating anxiety and motor control, but its effects under space constraints in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) remain unclear. ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the benefits of tVNS on anxiety and dynamic balance under space constraints in anxious PwPD. MethodsSixteen anxious PwPD completed a randomized cross-over trial involving active and sham tVNS sessions. Participants conducted mediolateral weight-shifting by coupling the weight-bearing of their more-affected lower extremity to a sinusoidal target in non-constraint, low-constraint, and high-constraint conditions. Weight-shifting tracking error and amplitude, physiological anxiety, and subjective anxiety were assessed. ResultsUnder space constraints, tracking error was reduced (low-constraint: p = 0. 002; high-constraint: p = 0. 001) and weight-shifting amplitudes toward the more-affected side (low-constraint: p 

Semantics

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