Breathing exercises may rewire tongue control — a pilot study puts the idea to the test
NCT ID NCT07737015
First seen Jul 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study investigates whether a brief bout of respiratory muscle training can alter the brain's control over tongue muscles in healthy adults. Twenty participants will perform breathing exercises using devices that resist inhalation or exhalation, and researchers will measure tongue-muscle responses using transcranial magnetic stimulation. The goal is to uncover the neural link between breathing exercises and oral motor control, which could inform future treatments for conditions like sleep apnea and swallowing difficulties.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- inspiratory and expiratory threshold loading devices
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could help explain how breathing exercises improve tongue function in conditions like sleep apnea or swallowing disorders.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study in healthy adults, so results may not apply to people with medical conditions. The effects measured are short-term and may not lead to lasting changes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
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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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2024
- Finished
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Dec 2024
- 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 years and older
- 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.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older * good general health * ability to read and understand the project information Exclusion Criteria: * medical, physical or psychological disorder * metal implants in the head * medications affecting the nervous system * craniofacial abnormalities * neuromuscular or inflammatory diseases * history of epilepsy * presence of pacemaker or implanted medical devices * pregnancy
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Aarhus University
Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
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