Hello! We hope you're enjoying the start of summer in many locations on this planet. Today, we've got an exciting preliminary study showcasing the targeting of the vagus nerve with light therapy.
We've also added our latest polls, articles, videos, and much more. Stay tuned:
New Study: Red Light Therapy For Heart Rate Variability
Once again, we're covering a 2026 study that has been recently published. The topic is "Heart Rate Variability", a biomarker for relaxation. We know that many people now need relaxation in these stressful times - for many!
We've written a lot about this topic in the past, such as when Alex Fergus and I still worked in biohacking or natural health and wellness in general. Check out some articles from Alex about HRV, for instance, or this one. We've used HRV as a proxy for relaxation and recovery for years now, using the Oura Ring.
Here's what the researchers write about the ability to influence HRV (and also vagal tone!):
" This study assessed whether [light therapy] applied to the vagus nerve in the infra‐auricular region (near the ears), combined with resistance exercise, modulates cardiac autonomic function in healthy, physically active adults. In this acute randomized controlled trial, 34 volunteers were enrolled: 17 underwent [light therapy] or sham [light therapy] in a crossover design, while a control group (n = 17) received [light therapy] without exercise. [Light therapy] was delivered with a total energy dose of 12 J. Heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed in time, frequency, and non‐linear domains. Results showed a slight reduction (p = 0.011) in approximate entropy (ApEn) in the [light therapy] group compared with controls, but no significant differences were observed in other HRV indices. "
So, there's a reduction of HRV when the area under the ears, where the vagus nerve is located, is irradiated. You can read the full study HERE, but let's break down the details of the study.
Figure 1 of the study showcases the protocol used, with an intervention group (who receive the real light therapy, the "PBM" group below), the placebo light therapy group that also exercise ("PBMP"), and a control group with no exercise and no real light therapy ("control"):
The light therapy protocol, moreover, is pretty easy to replicate as it's a 5.07 J/cm2 dose over a 2.54 cm2 area. Any handheld or torch device can already easily give you that dose and often gives you more power output on a bigger treatment area, so you'll have to go slow if you want to exactly replicate the parameters of this study.
The study participants are bodybuilders, moreover, which is quite good as the results are more likely to be generalizable to a gymgoing population. Me and Alex are examples of that and we're always trying to gain a new edge.
So here's the outcome, with a specific focus on HRV:
"When analyzing the effect of applying [light] therapy to the vagus nerve in the infra‐auricular region in association with a physical exercise protocol, little impact was observed on the cardiac autonomic modulation at rest in bodybuilders. Only one finding was observed in relation to the non‐linear analysis with a statistical difference in the ApEn variable (entropy variation) between the [light therapy] and [control] groups"
Honestly, the results are somewhat underwhelming. But, another thing is that the dose is quite low for the goal that is to be accomplished, at 5 J/cm2 - ideally I'd like to have seen 30 or even 50 J/cm2 there, for deeper tissue optimization. We're not trying to influence skin quality here, but ensure that sufficient light penetrates into deeper tissues, and hence, you're likely way better off with a higher dose.
No side effects though, which is great. Ideally, I'd still see the same study setup, with perhaps more near-infrared (NIR) light, and more study participants, and a higher dose, to check the outcome in those cases. Likely, due to the positive results of the current study, other researchers will investigate this topic in more detail.
And what about targeting the vagus nerve under the ears or in the neck, with light therapy? I'd probably use one of the following devices, starting with the Kineon MOVE+ which can be placed in the neck area (my favorite location is to place it on the arteries in the front/side of the neck, next to the Adam's apple):
Alex Fergus
Or, you can easily use a device such as a torch for this goal, and keep it in the area for a minute or two (longer if you want to try a higher dose than the study listed above, which I recommend!):
Alex Fergus
What to think about this study in general? Well, it's a good outcome. It's hopeful because we can target the vagus nerve with red light therapy. But the study is also a bit underwhelming - which can have many reasons.
Often, such a preliminary study is just a small step in a longer journey of figuring out how to target the target tissue (vagus nerve here!) as best as possible. So, it's not unfair to think that in the future, we'll have much more promising results in targeting the vagus nerve with light therapy, just as is the case with many different topics.
Then, Our Polls - Participate With The Links Below:
This week we had 2 different polls:
Poll 1: Mask Side Effects
See the poll HERE - participate and vote by clicking that link after you've joined our FB group.
(We're doing a video on this topic soon so we're collecting some data on red light therapy mask safety and side effects!)
By joining HERE you will also be able to see the comments on this poll:
Poll 2: In Hindsight, What Product Would You Have Bought After A Year Of Experience?
Again, the answers below are pretty explanatory. After you've joined our FB group, you can vote and see the answers/comments by clicking HERE.
Also, Check Out Some Of Our Other Content:
Below you'll find some of our best content that you shouldn't miss:
- Red Light Therapy for Epilepsy: My Son’s Story + The Science - This is a very very personal video by Alex on red light therapy for epilepsy, because his son was affected by this horrible health condition. Alex fixed it, however, with a specialized protocol and medical guidance of professionals, and this video showcases his journey.
- Vielight's Brain Photobiomodulation: Unique Application Method! - Here's Alex's breakdown of the Vielight science and why it's unique in transcranial and intranasal light therapy
- Red Light Therapy News: Eye Safety, New Devices & Fresh Science (May 2026) - all you need to know - the gossip, products, science, polls, Q&A, presented by the one and only Alex Fergus! Enjoy
- Red Light Therapy For Hair Loss: EVERYTHING You Need To Know - a huge, huge deep dive by Bart, going throug all of the latest research on hair loss and growth. We've been updating you on this topic for years now. And, with the science slowly changing, we'll keep updating you on the best protocols etc.
Join My Light Therapy Advanced Science Course - Some Of The Content Is Not On YouTube:
Join Bart's 100% free advanced science light therapy course above, where he takes deep dives into many different topics, such as mechanisms, neurology (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc), exercise recovery, skin beauty & rejuvenation, and much more.
Some of the topics are only published in that course, such as UV light risks and benefits, addiction, anxiety, depression, and more. So join HERE!
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