Neuro-Informed Approaches and Vagus Nerve-Calming Practices for Resilience
Rebecca Kase
Integrative and Complementary Therapies June 5, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/27683192261456174 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Slow diaphragmatic breathing Mindfulness Movement-based somatic exercises |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Vagal tone Autonomic nervous system Psychological intervention Heart rate variability Vagus nerve stimulation Autonomic function Flexibility engineering Psychological resilience Psychophysiology Parasympathetic nervous system Mental health Intervention counseling Diaphragmatic breathing Adaptation eye Function biology |
| Key findings | Argues that practices targeting vagal tone—specifically slow diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness, and movement-based somatic exercises—can enhance autonomic regulation and positively impact health outcomes, with breathwork showing the strongest evidence for increasing HRV. |
Abstract
The autonomic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve, plays a central role in stress resilience, emotion regulation, and overall health outcomes. Emerging evidence supports the integration of neuro-informed practices that enhance vagal tone and promote autonomic flexibility as effective, accessible interventions for stress and mental health-related conditions. This review examines the physiological function of the vagus nerve and its relationship to autonomic regulation, emphasizing three leading, evidence-based techniques (breath work, mindfulness, and movement) that enhance vagal tone and promote health and resilience. The aim of this article is to briefly synthesize current research on vagal toning techniques and highlight practical, neuro-informed approaches that can be applied across clinical and self-help contexts. A review of the current literature on the vagus nerve, vagal stimulation, and mind–body interventions, focusing on clinical applications and measurable outcomes related to autonomic function and stress resilience, suggests that practices targeting vagal tone, specifically slow diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness, and movement-based somatic exercises, can significantly enhance autonomic regulation and have a positive impact on health outcomes. Across randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, these interventions demonstrate increased heart rate variability (HRV), improved cardiovascular function, and enhanced emotion regulation. The strongest evidence supports breathwork, which reliably increases HRV and enhances parasympathetic activation. Mindfulness and movement-based interventions, though somewhat more variable in outcomes and standardization, show promising effects on autonomic flexibility, HRV, and emotion regulation. Research also supports the impact of interoceptive awareness on emotion regulation while simultaneously observing it as a mechanism of action within mindfulness and movement-based techniques. Collectively, these findings support the integration of accessible, cost-efficient, noninvasive vagal toning techniques for improving physiological and psychological wellness, which may be applied in clinical or self-help settings.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Mindfulness meditation training alters cortical representations of interoceptive attention Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience June 11, 2012
- Mindfulness-Based Student Training Improves Vascular Variability Associated With Sustained Reductions in Physiological Stress Response. Frontiers in Public Health 2022
- Can Yoga Boost Access to the Bodily and Emotional Self? Changes in Heart Rate Variability and in Affective Evaluation Before, During and After a Single Session of Yoga Exercise With and Without Instructions of Controlled Breathing and Mindful Body Awareness in Young Healthy Women Frontiers in Psychology December 3, 2021
- The Effects of Mindfulness and Meditation on Vagally Mediated Heart Rate Variability: A Meta-Analysis. Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2021
- Mindfulness mediates the physiological markers of stress: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research August 23, 2017
and 1 more in the library