Brain scans reveal how nerve stimulation may tame cluster headaches

NCT ID NCT02081482

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looked at 20 people with hard-to-treat chronic cluster headache who were already receiving occipital nerve stimulation. Researchers used brain scans to see how the stimulation changes brain activity. The goal was to understand how the treatment works, not to test if it works.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
occipital nerve stimulation (a device that sends electrical pulses to nerves at the back of the head)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could reveal how occipital nerve stimulation changes brain activity, pointing toward better treatments for cluster headache.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early-stage study focused on understanding the mechanism, not on proving the treatment works. Results may not apply to everyone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • CHU -Hôpital Gabriel Montpied

    Clermont-Ferrand, 63000, France

  • Centre d'Urgence Céphalées

    Paris, 75010, France

  • Département d'Evaluation et Traitement de la Douleur - Pôle Neurosciences Cliniques - Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Nice

    Nice, 06000, France

  • Institut des Neurosciences

    Marseille, 13385, France

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