The main aim of the study is to investigate whether the transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation(tVNS) promotes oxytocin release and the potential biomarkers of tVNS based on eye-tracking data
A randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled, within-subject, crossover design will be employed in this study. In a randomized order, a total of 54 healthy subjects will receive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation via tragus and sham stimulation vis earlobe in the left ear (interval between these two stimulations will be 1 week). Eye-tracking and behavioral data will be collected before and after 30 minutes of stimulation, saliva samples will be collected before and after 30 minutes of stimulation, and the end of the experiment. Some personal traits will be assessed using different kinds of questionnaires, such as the Autism Spectrum Quotient(ASQ), Social Responsiveness Scale(SRS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck's Depression Inventory(BDI), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
54
The device will send stimulus intensity around 0.5mA via tragus in the left ear (based on participants' subjective report), delivered with a pulse width of 0.25 ms at 25 Hz. Stimulation will be active for 30 seconds, followed by a break of 30 seconds.
The device will send stimulus intensity around 0.5mA via earlobe in the left ear (based on participants' subjective report), delivered with a pulse width of 0.25 ms at 25 Hz. Stimulation will be active for 30 seconds, followed by a break of 30 seconds.
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
RECRUITINGOxytocin release
Investigating the oxytocin release after vagus nerve stimulation via tragus based on saliva samples
Time frame: After 30 min tragus stimulation
The relationship between oxytocin concentration and personal traits
Analyzing the correlation between saliva oxytocin concentration and scores on different personal traits
Time frame: through study completion, an average of half an year
Pupil size
Investigating whether vagus nerve stimulation via tragus will increase pupil diameter
Time frame: After 30 min tragus stimulation
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