The goal of this study is to learn about the acute pupil response to transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in stroke survivors and healthy adults. The main question it aims to answer is whether pupil size response is greater with bilateral tVNS compared to unilateral tVNS. Participants will receive tVNS and sham at the outer ear unilaterally and bilaterally in resting condition. The pupil size of the participants will be recorded during tVNS.
Participants will wear surface electrodes on the outer ear on both sides and a finger device that monitors heart rate. The attachment sites are the tragus or the cymba concha (depending on the shape and size of the ear) for tVNS and the ear lobe for sham. The electrical current will have a pulse duration of 0.1 ms at 30 Hz with an intensity below the pain threshold or 5 milliamp, whichever is lower, for a duration of 0.5 s. The experimental stimulation intensity will be determined as just below the pain threshold. Participants will receive multiple blocks of unilateral left, unilateral right, and bilateral stimulations to the sham or tVNS electrodes at rest, during which their pupil size will be recorded. The order of unilateral/bilateral and sham/tVNS stimulation will be randomized.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
21
Electrical stimulation to the cymba concha and tragus of the outer ear on the left side.
Electrical stimulation to the cymba concha and tragus of the outer ear on both sides.
Electrical stimulation to the earlobe of the outer ear on the left side.
Human Neuromuscular Physiology Lab
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Peak Percent Change in Pupil Diameter During Stimulation
For each stimulation trial, pupil diameter is recorded continuously. The outcome is the maximum percent change in pupil diameter during the stimulation period relative to the mean pupil diameter measured immediately before stimulation within the same trial.
Time frame: During one study visit (within 1 day)
Mean Percent Change in Pupil Diameter During Stimulation
For each stimulation trial, pupil diameter is recorded continuously. The outcome is the mean percent change in pupil diameter during the stimulation period relative to the mean pupil diameter measured immediately before stimulation within the same trial.
Time frame: During one study visit (within 1 day)
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Electrical stimulation to the earlobe of the outer ear on both sides.
Electrical stimulation to the cymba concha and tragus of the outer ear on the right side.
Electrical stimulation to the earlobe of the outer ear on the right side.