Healthy
Conditions
Brief summary
The main aim of the study is to investigate whether the transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation(tVNS) improves the ability of inhibitory control in an emotional Go-Nogo task.
Detailed description
A randomized, sham-controlled, between-subject design will be employed in this study. A total of 87 healthy subjects will receive either transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation via tragus or sham stimulation via the earlobe in the left ear. Brain activity and behavioral data for an emotional Go-Nogo task will be recorded and saliva samples will be collected before, during, and after stimulation. Some personal traits will be assessed using different kinds of questionnaires, such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck's Depression Inventory(BDI), Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ) et al.
Interventions
The device will send stimulus intensity of around 0.5mA via tragus in the left ear (based on participants' subjective report), delivered with a pulse width of 0.5 ms at 25 Hz. Stimulation will be active for 30 seconds, followed by a break of 30 seconds.
The device will send stimulus intensity of around 0.5mA via the earlobe in the left ear (based on participants' subjective reports), delivered with a pulse width of 0.5 ms at 25 Hz. Stimulation will be active for 30 seconds, followed by a break of 30 seconds.
Sponsors
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders
Exclusion criteria
* history of head injury; * pregnant, menstruating, taking oral contraceptives; * medical or psychiatric illness.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The ability of inhibitory control in an emotional Go-Nogo task | After 30 minutes stimulation | Analysis the behavioral and brain data recorded during the task |
| Oxytocin release | within 5 minutes after taVNS via tragus and earlobe | Investigating the oxytocin release after taVNS via tragus and earlobe based on saliva samples |
Countries
China
Outcome results
None listed