Mapping Auricular Vagus Nerve Circuitry

NCT ID: NCT00200889

Last Updated: 2025-10-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-08-22

Study Completion Date

2028-06-30

Brief Summary

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This study will determine how noninvasive nerve stimulation affects human brain, stomach, and autonomic activity.

Detailed Description

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Scientific research into the basic mechanisms underlying neuromodulation is relatively recent and incomplete. The purpose of the proposed study is to determine how a form of neuromodulation, transcutaneous electro-accupoint stimulation, which is non-invasive and non-painful, affects human brain, stomach, and autonomic activity. We will accomplish this by integrating whole brain functional MRI (fMRI) methodologies with gastric MRI and physiological monitoring.

This study will comprise 3 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain-gut scans, all while receiving the neuromodulation with varying parameters. Participants will also have their heart rate, breathing, and gastric activity monitored during all visits.

Conditions

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Healthy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Participants will be randomized 1:1 to "Congruent" or "Incongruent" briefing groups. The Congruent group receives briefings including expectations of stimulation effects on gastric motility consistent with prior research in the literature. The Incongruent group receives briefings including expectations of stimulation effects on gastric motility inconsistent with prior research in the literature.
Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors
Participants are not made aware of the expectation manipulation nor their group assignment until the end of the final visit, at which point they are debriefed.

Outcomes assessors will be blind to group assignments until analysis is complete.

Study Groups

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Congruent

Participants receive briefings on expectations of stimulation effects on gastric motility consistent with the literature.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

active TEAS

Intervention Type DEVICE

non-painful active transcutaneous electro-acupoint stimulation will be delivered to the abdomen and leg

Incongruent

Participants receive briefings on expectations of stimulation effects on gastric motility inconsistent with the literature.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

active TEAS

Intervention Type DEVICE

non-painful active transcutaneous electro-acupoint stimulation will be delivered to the abdomen and leg

Interventions

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active TEAS

non-painful active transcutaneous electro-acupoint stimulation will be delivered to the abdomen and leg

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adults 18-65
* Functional dyspepsia

Exclusion Criteria

* Any condition contraindicating an fMRI brain scan
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Vitaly Napadow, Ph.D., Lic.Ac.

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Vitaly Napadow, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Harvard University

Locations

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Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Andy Bolender, B.A.

Role: CONTACT

617-643-4297

Facility Contacts

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Andy Bolender

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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3OT2OD023867-01S2

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

2009P002177

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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