NCT00200889

Mapping Auricular Vagus Nerve Circuitry

Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Gastric and Brain Outcomes

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study will determine how noninvasive nerve stimulation affects human brain, stomach, and autonomic activity.

Detailed description

Scientific research into the basic mechanisms underlying neuromodulation is relatively recent and incomplete. The purpose of the proposed study is to determine how a form of neuromodulation, transcutaneous electro-accupoint stimulation, which is non-invasive and non-painful, affects human brain, stomach, and autonomic activity. We will accomplish this by integrating whole brain functional MRI (fMRI) methodologies with gastric MRI and physiological monitoring. This study will comprise 3 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain-gut scans, all while receiving the neuromodulation with varying parameters. Participants will also have their heart rate, breathing, and gastric activity monitored during all visits.

Conditions

• Healthy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	active TEAS	non-painful active transcutaneous electro-acupoint stimulation will be delivered to the abdomen and leg

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-22
• Primary completion: 2028-06-30
• Completion: 2028-06-30
• First posted: 2005-09-20
• Last updated: 2025-10-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States