The study will investigate whether ctVNS administered using a hand-held cognitive performance device can measurably improve focus, mood and athletic performance among student-athletes.The University of Alabama at Birmingham is launching a new research initiative to explore the extent to which a non-invasive neuromodulation device can enhance the mental and physical performance of its Division I football athletes.
“Elite athletes operate at the edge of physical and cognitive capacity,” said Matthew Macaluso, D.O., professor in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs at UAB. “This study explores how technology can safely and ethically enhance human performance, with a focus on both brain and body.”
The study, titled “TAC-STIM to Accelerate and Enhance Cognitive, Academic, and Physical Performance of UAB Blazer Football Players,” is led by Macaluso and Yogesh Dwivedi, Ph.D., professor and Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Development — both are within the Heersink School of Medicine. The study will investigate whether cervical transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, or ctVNS, administered using a hand-held cognitive performance device developed for the United States military, called TAC-STIM, can measurably improve focus, mood and athletic performance among student-athletes.
“We look for every opportunity to help our athletes perform at their best every day, on and off the field,” said UAB Blazer Head Football Coach Trent Dilfer. “We are excited to be the first Division I football program deploying TAC-STIM in the 2025 season and look forward to its helping our athletes perform at their best and to helping the Blazers dominate on the field.”
The research will include up to 50 members of the UAB Blazers football team who have volunteered to use the TAC-STIM device twice daily during the 2025 season. The device delivers low-level electrical impulses to the vagus nerve through the skin, a technique shown in prior studies to boost neurotransmitters associated with learning and attention, improve mood, and enhance operational performance in a number of military settings. Participants will undergo regular assessments of mood, cognitive function, physical performance and academic progress throughout the six-month study.
Researchers will also collect blood samples at several intervals to analyze blood-based biomarkers, including markers — small pieces of genetic material sensitive to stress and environmental changes — to study potential biological correlates of stimulation effects.
“The blood-based biomarkers studied in our lab provide additional insights and can help researchers understand how the vagus nerve impacts performance, cognitive function and mood,” Dwivedi said.
The study is sponsored the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, with the TAC-STIM units being provided by electroCore, Inc.
“UAB is proud to be at the forefront of sports neuroscience and precision wellness,” Macaluso said. “Our hope is to build a deeper understanding of how safe, science-backed tools can support athlete success both on and off the field.”
The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and is expected to conclude in mid-2026.