Ear zap trial hopes to spark motivation in depressed patients
NCT ID NCT07198100
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a mild, non-invasive electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve through the ear can improve motivation and mood in people with depression. Researchers will compare 60 depressed patients and 60 healthy controls, looking at how insulin sensitivity affects the results. Participants will undergo brain scans and behavioral tests during real or sham stimulation in a randomized, single-blinded crossover design.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new way to improve motivation and mood in people with depression, especially those with insulin resistance.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early, small study testing only short-term effects. It may not lead to a lasting treatment, and individual results may vary.
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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
-
Section of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn
RECRUITINGBonn, 53127, Germany
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