In an adult, the nerve averages 22 inches in length. It serves as one of the primary communication links between the organs of the body and the brain, and more than 80 percent of the electrical signals applied to the vagus nerve reach the brain. Vagus nerve stimulation appears to directly affect those parts of the brain involved in the regulation of moods. Neither patients nor researchers will know which devices are turned on. To be eligible for the study, a patient must be diagnosed with a major depressive episode, have a history of chronic depression or multiple episodes of major depression, and have a history of unsuccessful treatment with psychotherapy and medication.
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