High Performance Longevity #180 Ultimate 60-Second Strategy to Cut Stress, Anxiety, Enhance Recovery & Improve Performance (Vagus Nerve Electric Stimulation) | Nick Hool @ Hoolest
Are you a stress dominant individual looking for a quick way to reduce anxiety & nerves right before your big game, board meeting or a high stake activity? Then vagus nerve stimulation may be the answer.
In today’s episode, Nick Hool, founder and innovator of Hoolest, unfolds the truth about the vagus nerve stimulation & just how crucial your vagal nerve tone & condition is when it comes to your reactions to stress. Discover how he developed a device targeting the vagus nerve that promotes relaxation & reduces stress in under 60 seconds. You’ll learn all that & more in this episode on “Innovating Vagus Nerve Stimulation”
Meet our guestNick, a former competitive golfer, shifted his focus to studying stress responses in high-performance individuals after developing debilitating performance anxiety. He earned a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at ASU, where he explored neuromodulation technologies and discovered the benefits of vagus nerve stimulation for calming the nervous system.
To improve user experience, he developed VeRelief, a portable, high-strength vagus nerve stimulation tool designed for busy professionals seeking effective stress relief. VeRelief is now used by first responders, executives, athletes, doctors, and other high-stress professionals nationwide.
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- There are many ways to stimulate the vagus nerve, each with slightly different effects
- The vagus nerve connects the brain to the body and helps calm the nervous system during fight-or-flight states
- Electrical stimulation is faster and more effective for vagus nerve activation
- Stimulating the trigeminal nerve can reduce headache pain and prevent future migraines
- Auricular nerve stimulators can be used for 10–20 minutes; simply adjust them until you hit the right spot for effectiveness
- Vagus nerve stimulation can reduce stress and anxiety
- Vagus nerve stimulation can distract your mind from stress by focusing your attention on the sensation
- Sleep issues often have a stress component, such as overthinking, mental chatter, or negative thoughts
- Auriculovagus nerve stimulation increases neuroplasticity, enhancing the brain’s ability to learn and retain new information
- Using vagus nerve stimulation before practicing a skill improves memory retention and performance
- If you have low vagal tone, start gently with electrical stimulation, as it can be overwhelming at first
- Visualization can help reduce stress by mentally rehearsing scenarios, making the brain feel like it’s already experienced them
- Effective visualization requires time and focus—an hour a day of undistracted practice is necessary to see real benefits
- Daily vagus nerve stimulation strengthens emotional regulation, reducing negative responses to future bad memories
03:06 Everything You Need to Know About The Vagus Nerve
07:01 Benefits & Risks of Vagus Nerve Stimulation
09:04 Vagus Nerve & Stress Relief Stimulation Modalities
18:49 Effects of VNS on Chronic Illness, Cognitive, & Performance Enhancement
47:41 Vagus Nerve Stimulation Studies
Links- Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kw1vqd_ABC4
- Full episode show notes: mindbodypeak.com/180
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Do you have questions, thoughts, or feedback for us? Let me know in the show notes above and one of us will get back to you!
Be an Outliyr,
Nick