Brain zaps may ease breathlessness, early study hints

NCT ID NCT05623696

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Oxford Brookes University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a painless magnetic brain stimulation technique called rTMS can reduce the feeling of breathlessness (air hunger) in 21 healthy adults. Participants breathed air with extra carbon dioxide to trigger moderate breathlessness while receiving real or fake rTMS over the front part of the brain. The goal is to understand how the brain controls breathlessness, which could eventually lead to new treatments for people with heart or lung disease.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward new treatments for breathlessness in patients with heart or lung disease.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early study in healthy volunteers, not patients. The effect may not translate to real-world breathlessness or lead to a treatment.

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.

Dyspnea

As listed by the trial registrant

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

DYSPNEA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Oxford Brookes University

Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 0BP, United Kingdom

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