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Effect of Stimulation on the Vagus Nerve
Sponsor: Indiana University
Summary
The vagus nerve is a largely-internal nerve that controls many bodily functions, including stomach function. Investigators hope that electrically stimulating the nerve around the external ear will also stimulate the internal vagus nerve. If it does, then investigators hope that this will help the treatment of patients with nausea and vomiting and disordered stomach function. Investigators also hope to be able to measure the activity of the vagus nerve when it is stimulated in other ways. This could help investigators learn more about studying this nerve in the future.
Official title: Effect of Electrical Stimulation of the Auricular Branch of the Vagus Nerve (ABVN) on Cervical Vagus Nerve Compound Nerve Action Potentials(CNAPs)
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 80 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
30
Start Date
2019-07-22
Completion Date
2027-08-31
Last Updated
2026-03-06
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve around the external ear using a transcutaneous device. Electrical current will be increased in intensity based on subject feedback of a scale 0-10. Electrical stimulation will be delivered for 2 minutes once the subject reports the maximum comfortable intensity.
Vagal Stimulation
Subjects will be asked to do the following in order to stimulate the vagus nerve: * Cough 6 to 8 forceful coughs * Have an ice cold wash cloth placed on their face for 10 seconds. * Carotid massage * Gagging: a tongue depressor is briefly inserted into the back of the mouth touching the bag of the throat. * Valsalva maneuver: Subjects will be asked to bear down as if having a bowel movement. They will be asked to blow through a mouthpiece that is hooked to a device that measures how hard they are blowing. Alternatively, we can have them blow through the barrel of a 10 ml syringe for 15-20 seconds. * Eating: Subjects will be asked to drink water and/or Ensure that has 220 calories after fasting overnight.
Locations (1)
Indiana University Hosptial
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States