Scientists map brain's response to ear touch in healthy volunteers
NCT ID NCT06825364
First seen Nov 01, 2025 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 25 times
Summary
This study looks at how the brain responds when different spots on the ear are gently touched. Eighty healthy volunteers will wear a cap with infrared sensors to measure brain activity while a plastic filament stimulates points on both ears. The goal is to see if the brain reacts differently depending on which ear point is touched, which could help understand how the ear is connected to the brain.
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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University of Pittsburgh
RECRUITINGPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
auricular stimulation (von Frey filament)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could help map how the brain responds to touch on different ear points, potentially guiding future treatments for pain or other conditions.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, not patients. It only measures brain signals, not treatment effects, so results may not apply to real-world medical use.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.