Could a gentle buzz behind the ears tune your heart's rhythm?
NCT ID NCT07715227
First seen Jul 20, 2026 · Last updated Jul 21, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial investigates whether a mild electrical current applied behind the ears—called galvanic vestibular stimulation—can change heart rate variability in healthy adults during their normal workday. Participants receive either real or sham stimulation over four daily sessions while their heart activity is monitored. The study also looks at whether any effects depend on how dizzy people feel during stimulation.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) using BrainPatch device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a non-invasive way to improve heart rate regulation and stress resilience in healthy people.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, so results may not apply to broader populations or have clinical significance.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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56 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2021
- Finished
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May 2022
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 49 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Аge between 18 and 49 years * Absence of dermatological conditions (e.g., eczema, psoriasis) or open wounds in the electrode placement area (mastoid region) * No metallic or electronic implants (e.g., pacemakers, cochlear implants) * No history of neurological, psychiatric, or cardiovascular disorders * Not currently pregnant * Employment or activities not involving the operation of vehicles or hazardous machinery Exclusion Criteria: • Failure to meet any of the inclusion criteria
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
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JSC "Kazakhtelecom"
Almaty, 050004, Kazakhstan
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