Ear stimulation may quiet pain — scientists scan the brain to find out how

NCT ID NCT07719868

Not yet recruiting Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 22, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether a mild electrical pulse to a nerve in the ear can reduce pain caused by a capsaicin cream (the stuff that makes chili peppers hot). Researchers will also use brain scans and magnetic pulses to watch how the brain's pain circuits change during stimulation. The goal is to understand the brain mechanisms behind this potential drug-free pain relief.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) delivered via a device to the ear
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a drug-free, non-invasive way to manage pain by understanding how the brain responds to nerve stimulation.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase study in healthy volunteers using lab-induced pain, not real chronic pain. The results may not apply to patients or lead to a treatment.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

agnosia pain agnosia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ANALGESIA CAPSAICIN-INDUCED PAIN ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY NEUROMODULATION PAIN MANAGEMENT TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION REPETITIVE VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION

Contacts and locations

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Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

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