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RECRUITING Not applicable ClinicalTrials.gov

The Effect and Mechanism of taVNS in Modulating Human Social Attention

Sponsor: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China • ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07798349

Registry updated: 2026-09-01
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Description

The objectives of this study are to investigate: 1. whether non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) can enhance human interest in social stimuli in free-viewing and stressful tasks; 2. whether its effect on brain function occurs via modulating endogenous oxytocin release; 3. how the stimulation site and various parameters of taVNS should be set to effectively promote the above-mentioned changes in brain function. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does taVNS facilitate a preference for social relative to non-social stimuli in both free-viewing and stressful tasks? 2. Does taVNS increase peripheral concentrations of the neuropeptide oxytocin, and whether these changes are associated with enhanced social attention? 3. Does taVNS stimulation of the right tragus, left tragus, or bilateral tragus sites produce the strongest effects on oxytocin release and social attention? Investigators will compare the effects of taVNS targeting the left tragus, right tragus, or bilateral tragus with ear-lobe sham stimulation (no vagal activation). Eye-tracking will be used across multiple experimental paradigns. For measurements of oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), saliva samples will be collected at baseline, immediately after taVNS, 20 min post-stimulation, and 30 min post-stimulation. Investigators will test whether (a) taVNS facilitates social attention, and (b) its effects are associated with elevated OT and AVP release. Investigators hypothesize that taVNS will enhance social attention and oxytocin release, that changes in social attention will be associated with the magnitude of oxytocin release, and that bilateral tragus stimulation will produce the strongest effects on both social attention and oxytocin release.

Interventions

  • taVNS (Device)
    bilateral Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on earlobe
  • taVNS (Device)
    Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on left tragus
  • taVNS (Device)
    taVNS only on the right tragus
  • taVNS (Device)
    taVNS on the bilateral tragus

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Healthy adults Exclusion Criteria: * History of past or current neurological/psychiatric disorders; * Use of psychotropic medications (including nicotine and alcohol) * Visual impairments * Baseline data exceeds ±3 SD from mean

Conditions

Healthy Adult Role of Vagal Stimulation in Oxytocin Release Role of Vagal Stimulation in Social Attention

Locations

  • School of Life science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China — Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Official Source

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

View Official Record