Ear-Zapping gadget might tame stress, small study hints
NCT ID NCT07628842
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether a mild electrical stimulation on the ear (taVNS) can reduce stress in 60 healthy adults. Participants received either real or fake stimulation before a stressful task. The main goal was to see if it lowered cortisol levels in saliva. Results could help develop a non-drug stress relief method.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a drug-free way to manage acute stress in healthy people.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, not patients. The effect may be small or not real, and results may not apply to stressed or ill populations.
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
-
Maastricht University
Maastricht, Limburg, 6229ER, Netherlands
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