Can a gentle ear zap calm the Brain's overactive 'Fight or Flight' response?
NCT ID NCT07131696
First seen Aug 11, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether a non-invasive device that stimulates the vagus nerve through the ear can reduce harmful spasms in brain arteries that often occur days after an aneurysm rupture. The study will enroll 10 adults who have had this type of bleeding in the brain and will receive up to four 20-minute sessions of ear stimulation daily during their hospital stay. Researchers will measure inflammation markers and blood flow in the brain to see if this approach helps calm the body's stress response and improve recovery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS) delivered through an ear electrode
- What this could lead to
- If effective, tVNS could offer a non-invasive way to reduce dangerous brain artery spasms after aneurysm rupture, potentially lowering stroke risk and improving recovery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small early trial (10 people) without a comparison group, so results may not be conclusive. The device is FDA-approved for other conditions but not specifically for vasospasm, and its benefit here is unproven.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
UAB Hospital
RECRUITINGBirmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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