The role of the vagus nerve in regulating cardiac, respiratory, and gut functioning via brainstem nuclei is well-established. More recently, its role has been examined in relation to the modulation of higher cognitive functions. Bodily signals (e.g. from the heart or gut) conveyed by vagal afferents could affect cognitive functioning via projections from the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) to the locus coeruleus and thence to widespread cortical areas through noradrenergic outputs. In addition, the NTS transmits sensory-visceral information to the central autonomic network, which includes higher brain areas (e.g. prefrontal cortex). Recent research suggests that vagus nerve activity is associated with a range of psychological functions including memory, executive function, and threat/fear processing. In addition, biobehavioral theories of vagal functioning, and emerging empirical evidence suggest a role for the vagus nerve in modulating social behavior as well as complex emotional states.

A number of researchers have proposed a role for vagal nerve functioning in well-being, and particularly in generating or modulating feelings of 'safeness', contentedness, and relaxation that underlie complex social-affective-motivational states, such as compassion. Previous research has examined the effects of inducing compassionate feelings while measuring vagus nerve activity (via heart rate variability). However, to our knowledge, no published study has demonstrated an association between vagal activity and compassion by directly modulating the vagus nerve itself. Such studies have important theoretical implications but are also potentially valuable in the future development of interventions that employ tVNS or similar technology to augment psychological treatments that employ compassion-focused techniques (e.g. compassionate mind training; compassion-focused cognitive therapy; loving-kindness meditation-based treatments, etc.)

The current experiment aims to determine if vagus nerve activation using tVNS is sufficient to generate positive affective states, especially compassion (specifically, self-reported self-compassion). Alternatively, tVNS may produce a permissive physiological context that facilitates compassionate responding. For example, tVNS may synergize the effects of a compassion-inducing behavioral intervention. To examine these possibilities, the investigators will test the separate and combined (interacting) effects of tVNS and a compassion-induction procedure (self-compassion mental imagery) compared to sham conditions, in a four-group factorial (2 x 2) design. Participants will be randomly assigned to (i) active tVNS + sham imagery, (ii) active tVNS + active self-compassion imagery, (iii) sham-tVNS + active self-compassion and (iv) sham-tVNS + sham imagery.

In addition to examining the effects of stimulation and imagery conditions on self-compassion, the investigators will also test their effects on other types of positive affect, as well as self-criticism, which is an opposing form of self-representation to self-compassion. Self-criticism is a transdiagnostic psychological marker of psychopathology, and measures of self-criticism are sensitive to the effects of compassion-focused interventions , including brief self-compassion imagery, as will be used here. Vagal activity will be indexed using heart rate variability, and effects of stimulation and imagery will additionally be tested on attentional bias (e.g. first fixation, increased dwell time) to compassionate facial expressions.

Participants attend two lab sessions (on Day 1 and 8) in which they will undergo either supervised active or sham tVNS and either the self-compassion or sham imagery exercise (delivered as standardized audio instructions), per their randomized condition. Assessments of heart rate variability, self-compassion, self-criticism, positive state affect, and state mindfulness will occur before stimulation, during stimulation, and after the imagery exercise. In addition, participants will complete the Day 1 stimulation procedure and imagery task on Days 2-7, guided via online audio and written instructions. This will allow us to test the effects of extended (daily) stimulation and imagery practice. Additional study details are available on the Open Science Framework (osf.io/k2dje).