NCT07325058

Tonic Pain and Transauricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation

Exploration of the Effect, and Their Duration, of Different Frequency Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Sensory Perception.

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 36 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Aalborg University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 16 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to explore the effect of burst-taVNS (electric stimulation of the concha cymba) on tonic (capsaicin-induced skin pain) and acute (pressure pain sensitivity) experimental pain and cardioception. Primary outcomes include pain intensity. Secondary outcomes include sensory thresholds, resting heart rate (EKG), pupillary measurements and conditioned pain modulation.

Detailed description

Across 3 visits, each lasting around 2.5hours, burst-taVNS (electrical stimulation of the concha cymba) will be compared to active-control (electrircal stimulation of the earlobe) and sham (no current) stimulation, two gold-standard controls. Assessments of outcomes will occur before capsaicin application and before, twice during and after electrical ear stimulation.

Conditions

• Experimental Pain in Healthy Human Subjects

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	taVNS	Two-headed ball-point electrode which is placed in the concha cymba.
DEVICE	Earlobe Stimulation	Circular urface adhering electrodes will be attached to either facet of the earlobe.
DEVICE	Sham (No Treatment)	Circular surface adhesive electrodes will be placed on either facet of the earlobe. No current will pass through the electrodes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-18
• Primary completion: 2026-03-01
• Completion: 2026-04-01
• First posted: 2026-01-08
• Last updated: 2026-01-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Denmark