Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Probe to Map Functional Connectivity in Schizophrenia Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The main aim of this study is to determine whether non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation (nVNS) can modulate large brain networks disrupted in schizophrenia and to understand the timing of connectivity changes caused by stimulation. The central hypothesis that nVNS will (1) reliably activate specific networks in individuals with schizophrenia, (2) partially restore connectivity patterns compared to healthy controls, and (3) produce connectivity changes linked to improvements in cognitive function.