Transauricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation and Interoception - Trial NCT06240026

Timeline & Enrollment

Primary Outcome

Pain Perception Threshold,Pain Tolerance Threshold,Temporary Summation of Pain,Heartbeat Perception,Thermal Perception

Summary

The study is exploring whether, and for how long, taVNS may modulate deep muscular pressure
 pain thresholds, heartbeat, and thermal perception (Ethics Region Nord Jylland Denmark,
 N-20230022). To achieve this, 20 healthy subjects will complete a randomized, active control,
 crossover study. The main intervention is left concha taVNS (NEMOS, CerboMed GmbH, Erlangen,
 Germany) for 20 minutes (200µs duration, 20Hz, at a personalized intensity). This will be
 compared to an active control of identical electrical stimulation to the left earlobe. A
 blinding assessment inquiring which stimulation is supposed to be therapeutic will be
 collected. Main outcomes are pressure pain thresholds and temporal summation of pain
 responses acquired via cuff-pressure algometer (Cortex Technology, Aalborg University,
 Denmark) placed at the calf. Heartbeat perception, assessed via the heartbeat counting task,
 and thermal perception, assessed using a QST thermal grid, are also primary outcomes.
 Secondary outcomes are conditioned pain modulation, resting state electroencephalography,
 electrocardiography, and pupillary light reflexes.

ICD-10 Classifications