Ear needles tune the brain: study reveals Acupuncture's inner workings
NCT ID NCT07332962
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at how a type of ear acupuncture (using tiny press needles) changes brain connections and nerve activity in 40 healthy adults. Researchers used brain scans to see if the acupuncture affects areas linked to emotion and body awareness, similar to vagus nerve stimulation. The goal was to understand how this technique might help with conditions like insomnia and depression in the future.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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40 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2025
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 30 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 18-30 years; 2. Basically normal diet and sleep; 3. No history of mental illness; 4. No MRI contraindications (e.g., metal implants or pacemakers) or claustrophobia; 5. Willing to participate in this study and sign the informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Presence of auricular skin lesions or allergy to adhesive ear patches; 2. Currently receiving regular acupuncture treatment; 3. History of bleeding disorders or anticoagulant use (increased bleeding risk); 4. Previous history of syncope during acupuncture.
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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
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Taizhou People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University
Taizhou, Jiangsu, 225300, China
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