The main aim of the study is to investigate whether the transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation(tVNS) improves the ability of inhibitory control in an emotional Go-Nogo task.
A randomized, sham-controlled, between-subject design will be employed in this study. A total of 87 healthy subjects will receive either transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation via tragus or sham stimulation via the earlobe in the left ear. Brain activity and behavioral data for an emotional Go-Nogo task will be recorded and saliva samples will be collected before, during, and after stimulation. Some personal traits will be assessed using different kinds of questionnaires, such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck's Depression Inventory(BDI), Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ) et al.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
90
The device will send stimulus intensity of around 0.5mA via tragus in the left ear (based on participants' subjective report), delivered with a pulse width of 0.5 ms at 25 Hz. Stimulation will be active for 30 seconds, followed by a break of 30 seconds.
The device will send stimulus intensity of around 0.5mA via the earlobe in the left ear (based on participants' subjective reports), delivered with a pulse width of 0.5 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
The ability of inhibitory control in an emotional Go-Nogo task
Analysis the behavioral and brain data recorded during the task
Time frame: After 30 minutes stimulation
Oxytocin release
Investigating the oxytocin release after taVNS via tragus and earlobe based on saliva samples
Time frame: within 5 minutes after taVNS via tragus and earlobe
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