RecruitingNot Applicable

Tonic Pain and Transauricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation

Denmark36 participantsStarted 2025-12-18

Plain-language summary

This study aims to explore the effect of burst-taVNS (electric stimulation of the concha cymba) on tonic (capsaicin-induced skin pain) and acute (pressure pain sensitivity) experimental pain and cardioception. Primary outcomes include pain intensity. Secondary outcomes include sensory thresholds, resting heart rate (EKG), pupillary measurements and conditioned pain modulation.

Who can participate

Age range

16 Years – 60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy * Speak and understand English * 18-60 years old. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant and/or breastfeeding * Regular use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs * Current or previous neurologic, musculoskeletal, mental, or other illnesses (e.g., brain or spinal cord injuries, degenerative neurological disorders, major depression, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, etc.) * Current regular (once or more a week) use of analgesic medication or other medication which may affect the trial (including paracetamol and NSAIDs) * Recent history of acute pain particularly in the lower limbs * Abnormally disrupted sleep in 24 hours preceding experiment * Contraindications to electric stimulation application (history of epilepsy, metal implants in head or jaw, etc.) * Lack of ability to cooperate * Contraindications for capsaicin including an intolerance chili consumption and burns or wounds to the application site.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Pain Intensity

Timeframe: From when capsaicin is applied to the end of the experiment in 5 min intervals.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07325058

SponsorAalborg University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-03

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Experimental Pain in Healthy Human Subjects trials