Massage may rewire your brain, new study suggests
NCT ID NCT07190326
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study looks at whether massage and light touch therapies change brain activity and reduce anxiety. About 46 healthy adults will receive either Swedish massage or light touch twice a week for six weeks. Brain scans before and after will measure changes in brain networks and stress responses.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Swedish massage therapy and light touch therapy
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could reveal how touch therapies affect the brain, potentially guiding future treatments for anxiety.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, not patients. Results may not apply to people with anxiety disorders, and the therapies may show no significant brain changes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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
-
Huntsman Mental Health Institute
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108, United States
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