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Understanding Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation Effects in PTSD
Sponsor: Wayne State University
Summary
The goal of this study is to determine how non-invasive brain stimulation (delivered through the ear called vagus nerve stimulation) affects fear learning processes in people who have experienced psychological trauma. To answer these questions, we measure bodily responses (heart rate, sweat, startle) and questionnaires. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation help reduce anxious arousal? Does non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation help dampen learned fear?
Official title: SPARK-VNS: Facilitating Adaptive Posttraumatic Processing With Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 80 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
60
Start Date
2026-02-01
Completion Date
2032-12
Last Updated
2025-05-18
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
FDA-cleared Digitimer DS7A Constant Current Stimulator (Digitimer Ltd., USA) will deliver electrical stimulation for 60 mins. Active stimulation will consist of direct electrical stimulation to the inner side of the left tragus (anode on the cymba concha, cathode on the surface of the tragus), thereby stimulating the ABVN. Stimulation parameters will consist of 500μs pulse width, 25Hz frequency, delivered at 200% of each participant's individual perceptual threshold (PT) in 60sec on/off trains.
sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
FDA-cleared Digitimer DS7A Constant Current Stimulator (Digitimer Ltd., USA) will deliver electrical stimulation for 60 mins. Sham will be delivered to the ear lobe. Stimulation parameters will consist of 500μs pulse width, 25Hz frequency, delivered at 200% of each participant's individual perceptual threshold (PT) in 60sec on/off trains.
Locations (1)
Tolan Park Research Clinic, Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan, United States