Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation boosts accuracy during perceptual decision-making

Shiyong Su completed her Master and Ph.D. (2015-2022) in Biomechanical Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China (with Prof. Xiangyang Zhu), where she focused on the stimulation encoding and sensory evaluation for the sensory reconstruction of bidirectional neural prostheses, including the integrated implementation of closed-loop sensory feedback combining myoelectrical control and electrotactile stimulation, and the functional mechanism underlying sensory feedback based on electrophysiological evaluation. She was a visiting doctoral fellow at the Institute of Neuroscience in UCLouvain (with Prof. André Mouraux) where she developed a project exploring how tactile feedback could be integrated with auditory and visual feedback in next-generation multisensory human-computer interfaces. After this period, she began as a post-doctoral researcher at the CoActions Lab, where she was investigating the effect of taVNS on decision-making.

Thomas is a PhD student with a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences (Neuroscience option) from UCLouvain. He joined the CoActions Lab for his Master’s thesis in early 2024. His thesis aimed to investigate the causal role of the locus coeruleus norepinephrine system in regulating speed and accuracy during decision-making. In October 2025, he began his PhD, which continues the work initiated during his Master’s thesis. His current project involves behavioral testing, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), pupillometry, electroencephalography (EEG), and the use of the Kinarm robotic system.

Former postdoctoral researcher investigating cognitive processes underlying decision-making, action selection, and behavioral control. Currently leads the Mococo (Motor Control and Cognition) research group at Université de Bordeaux INCIAMO.

Clara graduated in 2022 from a master degree in biomedical engineering. She then worked in a pharmaceutical industry but, after few months, she decided to switch to fundamental research and joined the CoActions lab in June 2023 to begin a PhD. She will focus on the speed-accuracy trade off during reaching movement as well as on the role of arousal in this trade off. To do so, she will use reward, transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) and electroencephalography (EEG).

Research broadly explores a range of questions pertaining to the cognitive neuroscience of human behavior. Conduct experiments to explore the interaction between cognition and action in neurologically healthy and impaired individuals. Use a variety of techniques to characterize the functional role of different parts of the motor pathways, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electroencephalography (EEG). Recent research investigates the role of the locus coeruleus in various aspects of action control, including reaching movement control, decision making, and behavioral vigor, using transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) to causally probe this neuromodulatory system. More →