NCT04812015

Learning and Ear Stimulation

Optimizing Transdiagnostic Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation to Enhance Learning

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 28 (actual)
• Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to determine how non-invasive ear stimulation affects learning. During this study, participants will be asked to complete surveys and come to a lab for about 2.5 hours. Researchers will measure brain waves and other body responses (heart rate), while while the ear is stimulated. Participants also will be asked to complete computer tasks. Because brain activity will be measured, participants will be asked to come to the study with clean, dry hair. The study is at MUSC in Charleston. Participants will be compensated for their time. To be eligible, participants must be 18-65 years old, be able to commit 2.5 hours of time to the study, and be able to wear sensors on their hands, arms, and head and sit quietly at a computer. There are some risks to completing this study. Some questions in the surveys ask about personal thoughts and feelings. The ear stimulation may cause tingling sensations or irritation around the ear. There are no direct benefits to participants. This study will help researchers improve this ear stimulation as a treatment method.

Conditions

• Learning
• taVNS

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) 15 minutes	Sham 60 minutes and taVNS active stimulation for 15 minutes
DEVICE	taVNS 30 minutes	Sham 45 minutes and taVNS active stimulation for 30 minutes
DEVICE	taVNS 45 minutes	Sham 30 minutes and taVNS active stimulation for 45 minutes
DEVICE	taVNS 60 minutes	Sham 15 minutes and taVNS active stimulation for 60 minutes
DEVICE	taVNS 75 minutes	Sham 0 minutes and taVNS active stimulation for 75 minutes
DEVICE	taVNS 0 minutes	Sham taVNS 75 minutes

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-07-06
• Primary completion: 2023-03-01
• Completion: 2023-03-01
• First posted: 2021-03-23
• Last updated: 2025-08-13
• Results posted: 2025-08-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study