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Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) on Plasma Insulin Levels
Who can join
Ages 18 to 70 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy Volunteers * Aged 18-70 * Willing to have ECG electrodes placed on their neck and chest areas. * Willing to have electrodes placed in the external ear. * Willing to have an indwelling catheter placed to avoid multiple sticks for blood draw. Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to provide consent. * Diabetes diagnosis per patient report * Having known allergies to adhesive on electrode pads or bandages * Having gastric motility issues as determined by the PI or clinical coordinator. * Taking any medications that may affect gastric motility or cardiac variability, i.e. alpha or beta blockers for hypertension. * Pregnant females * Those unwilling to have the taVNS device placed in their ear. * Those unwilling to consent to a blood draw. * Prisoners
About the study
The vagus or vagal nerve is a nerve that sends signals from the brain to other parts of the body to control involuntary functionm, including stomach function, and it is important to the regulation of insulin, C-peptide, and glucose levels. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether electrically stimulating the nerve around the external ear will also stimulate the internal vagus nerve and influence the levels of insulin, C-peptide, and glucose. If it does, investigators hope that this will help innovate treatment of patients with nausea, vomiting, and disordered stomach function, and patients with diabetes.
What is being tested
- Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (device)
- Sham Procedure (No Stimulation) (device)
Sponsor: Indiana University · Participants: 60 · Started: Apr 21, 2025
Contact the study team
- Maureen Schilling, BS · Phone: 3172782064
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06597149
Locations in the U.S.
| Indiana | Indiana University Hospital, Indianapolis |
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 2, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.