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Impact of Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Stress Response in Major Depression
Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
Summary
This study will identify the sex-dependent impact of expiratory-gated transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) on the modulation of the stress response circuitry and associated physiology in major depressive disorder (MDD). We will evaluate a sample of 80 adults with recurrent MDD randomized to receive active or sham expiratory-gated tVNS during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session, with simultaneous mood and physiological assessments. We hypothesize that expiratory-gated tVNS will effectively modulate, in a sex-dependent manner, specific brainstem-cortical pathways of the stress circuitry and attenuate physiological deficits in MDD.
Official title: Sex-Dependent Impact of Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation on the Stress Response Circuitry and Autonomic Dysregulation in Major Depression
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
50 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
62
Start Date
2021-01-29
Completion Date
2026-05-31
Last Updated
2025-12-29
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
active tVNS
non-painful electrical stimulation of the auricle for 30 minutes during a functional magnetic resonance imaging session
Sham tVNS
Sham stimulation of the auricle for 30 minutes during a functional magnetic resonance imaging session
Locations (1)
Massachusetts General Hospital
Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States