Research

Proven to Reset Panic, Spiraling Stress, and Restore Calm — Safely

Auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS)—the foundation behind the Hoolest Mini—has been rigorously studied across thousands of sessions.

Clinical trials show it’s safe, fast, and effective at calming the nervous system, even during acute stress and panic episodes.

The studies below were run with Hoolest’s earlier VeRelief devices, built on the same aVNS approach as the Hoolest Mini.

View the studies Shop Hoolest Mini

36%Reduction in state-anxiety after a single 10-min treatment. Placebo: 18%.Study Two
24%Reduction in state-anxiety after a single treatment.Study Three
31%Increase in heart rate variability (rMSSD). Sham: 0%.Study Three
18,000+Sessions of vagus nerve stimulation, no serious side effects reported.Safety

Safety

Safety Proven in Thousands of Users

Close-up of the Hoolest Mini's gel tips pressed to the skin just below the earlobe

Across 150+ participants in placebo-controlled studies, there was no increased risk of side effects between real VeRelief stimulation (Hoolest’s earlier device) and placebo.
In over 18,000 sessions of vagus nerve stimulation across healthy, neurological, and psychiatric patients, no serious side effects were reported (Berthoud & Neuhuber, 2000).

source (opens in a new tab).
In over 6,000 participants, there was no higher risk of adverse events for those receiving real versus sham stimulation.

source (opens in a new tab).
Among 1,300+ participants, minor side effects like tingling (18%) and mild headache (3.6%) were the only issues reported (Kraus et al., 2007)—no dizziness, sedation, or drug-like complications.

source (opens in a new tab).

The Hoolest Mini is built on this research: fast relief without compromising safety—even under extreme emotional states.

The Studies

Study One

Engineering Faster Mental Recovery with Vagus Nerve Activation

Dr. Nicholas Hool, Dr. William J. Tyler, Dr. Sarah Wyckoff, and Dr. Taylor Hearn conducted a study aimed at developing a Targeted Neuroplasticity Training (TNT) method to enhance foreign language learning. They focused on optimizing noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) techniques that are comfortable and suitable for everyday use in various training environments.

The researchers explored transdermal auricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS), which targets nerve fibers in the external ear, as a more comfortable alternative to other methods. They designed biocompatible, hydrogel earbud electrodes for unilateral or bilateral use, and evaluated their safety and efficacy across different frequencies and intensities.

The team also examined the impact of taVNS on autonomic physiology, attention, sensory gating, and plasticity using various measurements, including heart rate, heart rate variability, skin conductance, skin temperature, respiration rate, EEG, and pupillometry.

Read the safety and efficacy report for the first prototype study here (opens in a new tab).

View Results (opens in a new tab)

Study Two

Rapid Anxiety Reduction Under Pressure

A golfer lines up a shot on a driving range while researchers film and take notes — **FIG. 2** Study Two

Population

18 competitive golfers during a 150-yard hitting task.

Device and Treatment Duration

10 minutes of vagus and great auricular nerve stimulation on both sides of neck (bilateral stimulation).

Results

36% Clinically Significant Reduction (36%) in state-anxiety in active treatment group after single 10-min treatment. Only 18% reduction in placebo group.

Compare to 10 minutes with the top alternatives:

36% Active treatment group
34% with benzodiazepines (Williams et al., 2017 (opens in a new tab))
25% with yogic breathwork (Kumar et al., 2017 (opens in a new tab))
18% Placebo group

No differences in safety and tolerability between active and placebo treatments (Pain, dizziness, blurred vision, headache, skin itching or irritation).

Significant increase in quality of feel of each shot in active group only.

Study Three

Breaking the Panic Spiral in PTSD and Panic Disorder Patients

An earlier VeRelief study device beside electrode pads and a study consent form — **FIG. 3** Hoolest’s earlier VeRelief device.

Population

24 patients with self-diagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Panic Disorder.

Device and Treatment Duration

5 minutes of VeRelief treatment (Hoolest’s earlier device) on each side of the neck, for a 10-minute total treatment time.

Note: While these studies utilized 10-minute protocols for comprehensive data collection, the Hoolest Mini is designed for short sessions: most people feel an initial calming shift within 30 seconds to 3 minutes.

Results

24% Clinically Significant Reduction in State-Anxiety in active treatment group after single treatment

31% Increase in Heart Rate Variability (rMSSD) in active group alone. 0% change in sham group.

100% of Active Users reported treatment to be Relaxing. 33% of sham participants found treatment to be relaxing.

No differences in safety and tolerability between active and sham treatments (Pain, dizziness, blurred vision, headache, skin itching or irritation).

Hoolest Mini: aVNS on your keychain

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CASE STUDY

Stopping Panic Before It Spirals

Population

Individual 23-year-old male patient living with diagnosed Panic Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Protocol

Use 2x per day for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of using the devices, patient was asked to rate each statement as Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree.

Results

"I feel better after using the device"

Strongly Agree 63% of the time
Agree 37% of the time

"I feel better having access to this device in case I have symptoms"

Strongly Agree 25% of the time
Agree 75% of the time

"The device helps me relax"

Strongly Agree 37% of the time
Agree 63% of the time

"The device decreases the severity of my symptoms"

Agree 75% of the time

"The device is easy to use"

Strongly Agree 12.5% of the time
Agree 75% of the time

Patient Statement:

“It has stopped some panic attacks from getting worse and [felt like] I was melting into my bed. Complete mental and physical relaxation.”

The Vagus Nerve: Your Built-In Panic Reset

The vagus nerve — your body’s ultimate power line — connects your brain to nearly every major organ, earning its name from the Latin word for “wandering” as it weaves through your entire system.

Your body's vagus nerve is the vital switch that calms your system, releasing serotonin and acetylcholine to soothe panic and restore natural balance — the way your body was designed to heal.

The Vagus Nerve