Which ear zap feels best? scientists test two waveforms for vagus nerve stimulation

NCT ID NCT06614933

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

Summary

This study tested how different electrical waveforms (biphasic vs. monophasic) affect comfort and tolerability of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in 30 healthy adults. Participants received one hour of stimulation while reporting discomfort and heart rate changes. The goal is to identify the most tolerable waveform for future therapeutic applications.

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 successful, this could help design more comfortable taVNS protocols for future therapeutic use.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, so results may not apply to patient populations or predict long-term tolerability.

Disclaimer Read more

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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As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Miami, Plumer Building

    Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, United States