Different Frequency Applications of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Healthy Individuals

Starting soon · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Healthy Volunteers

In brief

This randomized, participant-blinded, sham-controlled crossover study aims to investigate the acute effects of different frequency applications of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on autonomic physiological responses in healthy adults. Participants will receive sham (0 Hz), 10 Hz, 25 Hz, 50 Hz, and 100 Hz taVNS in separate sessions with washout periods between visits. Heart rate variability, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and subjective discomfort will be assessed before and after each intervention session.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07526402

Run by

Sinop University

People needed

36

Starts

2026-05-01

Expected to finish

2026-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-16

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 40. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Healthy adults aged 18 to 40 years
• No known neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic disease
• Able to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent
• No active infection, open wound, or dermatological lesion in the ear region that would interfere with taVNS application
• Willing and able to attend all study visits

You may not qualify if…

• History of cardiac arrhythmia, pacemaker, or any implanted electronic medical device History of hypertension, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease, epilepsy, or systemic disease affecting autonomic nervous system function
• Regular use of medications that may affect autonomic function (e.g., beta-blockers, antidepressants, antiarrhythmics)
• Intense physical exercise within the previous 24 hours
• High caffeine or alcohol intake within 12 hours prior to assessment
• Active smoking on the assessment day
• Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy
• Severe discomfort during stimulation (VAS >= 7), dizziness, nausea, or unwillingness to continue
• Any condition judged by the investigators to make participation unsuitable'

Where it is running

• Artvin Coruh University, Artvin Vocational School, Disabled Care and Rehabilitation Laboratory — Artvin, Turkey (Türkiye)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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