All right, here’s @Nimelennar’s five-minute product research.
First: although I didn’t find any solid clinical evidence of this product working (not that I expected to), I also didn’t find any debunkings saying, “This is completely ridiculous, don’t waste your money.” Apparently, vagus nerve stimulation is a real thing, and apparently, that nerve does go to the ear. So, if it’s BS, then it’s at least competent BS.
That said, all of the reviews on Nervana’s subreddit say that the sound quality is terrible, and while this ad hypes up “calm and focus,” the original Indiegogo page hypes up “pleasure.”
Compare:
Introducing NERVANA: The World’s First Consumer Product to Stimulate the Body’s Pleasure Center and Release Natural Feel-Good Chemicals Synchronized to Your Music
Now, I’m not going to lie, the Indiegogo page does mention calm and focus …
This elicits a calm, relaxed feeling for most users in a natural way, which stimulates the brain’s pleasure center, known to release neurotransmitters (the body’s feel-good messengers).
… but it’s selling pleasure …
"That’s what NERVANA is all about: making people feel good.”
… which makes it odd that the BB Store ad doesn’t mention pleasure or “feeling good” at all.
I’d rate this a “don’t get your hopes up.”
