How does vagal nerve stimulation help some patients with epilepsy?
The body has two vagus nerves, one that travels up the left side of the neck and one on the right. The left nerve relays information to areas of the brain that are believed to produce seizures. When this nerve is stimulated by a low level of electrical current, some people find that their seizures are less frequent or less severe. A small, battery-operated device called a vagal nerve stimulator can be surgically placed in a person’s body. It can be programmed to deliver stimulation at regular intervals, or it can be activated with a magnet when a patient experiences an aura.
