Stressed? Nuropod Says It Can Fix That—by Hacking Your Brain

If you’re craving more focus, mental balance, energy, or restorative sleep, something called the vagus nerve could be the culprit. This long wire connects your brain to many major organs and helps regulate functions such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, and immune responses as needed.

Enter the Nuropod, released in the U.S. late last year, which bills itself as the “world’s most studied wearable vagus nerve stimulator.” Parasym, the company behind the Nuropod, essentially claims its device can quickly calm you down by stimulating the vagus nerve. This, per the company’s website, can help “shut down stress circuits,” regulate inflammation, and improve cognitive and physical performance.

Physically, the Nuropod is a small, remote control-like device with a connected earpiece that places electrodes on both sides of the left tragus—the small flap of cartilage in front of the ear canal. Parasym says you’ll feel a gentle pulsing sensation during use, though the company caveats that the duration and intensity of a session will vary depending on your nervous system and needs.

To reassure those who may worry about sticking electrodes to their ears, Parasym emphasizes that AVNT, the technology powering the Nuropod, has been evaluated in more than 60 studies and was developed with more than 150 research partners, including UCLA and the University of Chicago. Prospective consumers should note, however, that the full body of Nuropod research is not publicly available on its website; the company directs researchers and health care professionals to apply for access.

The Nuropod is available now for $900. You can get a discount of $50—$90 through June 30—if you take a vagus nerve assessment first.