VN	vagus nerve
VNS	vagus nerve stimulation
ABVN	auricular branch of the vagus nerve
FDA	Food and Drug Administration
NTS	the nucleus tractus solitarius
LC	locus coeruleus
CAP	cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway
ACh	acetylcholine
NE	norepinephrine
PPAR-γ	peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma
GABA	gamma-aminobutyric acid
5-HT	serotonin
DA	dopamine
BDNF	brain-derived neurotrophic factor
I/R	ischemia/reperfusion
L-PGDS	lipocalin prostaglandin D2 synthase
BBB	Blood–brain barrier
iVNS	invasive vagus nerve stimulation
taVNS	transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
VEGF	vascular endothelial growth factor
eNOs	endothelial nitric oxide synthase
GDF-11	growth differentiation factor 11
CBF	cerebral blood flow
nVNS	non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation
DMN	default mode network
IBD	inflammatory bowel disease
RA	rheumatoid arthritis
POI	postoperative ileus
SIRS	systemic inflammatory response syndrome
CPR	cardiopulmonary resuscitation
PD	Parkinson’s disease
ASD	autistic spectrum disorder
AD	Alzheimer’s disease
TBI	traumatic brain injury
tcVNS	transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation
CL-taVNS	closed-loop transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
MAAVNS	motor-activated auricular vagus nerve stimulation
RAVANS	respiratory-gated auricular vagal afferent nerve stimulation