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Examining Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation as a Facilitator of Social Bonding

NCT05899413 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 160

Last updated 2025-05-04

Study results available
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Summary

This study aims to understand the role of the vagus nerve in promoting social bonding by using a non-invasive stimulation technique called transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS). The investigators will investigate whether tVNS can improve emotional, physiological, and behavioral experiences during and after social interactions. Couples will be randomly assigned to receive either tVNS or a sham stimulation during gratitude expression and problem-solving discussions. The investigators will measure their subjective evaluations of the interactions and capture their physiological and behavioral synchrony. This research will shed light on the processes involved in social connection and explore the potential of tVNS as a tool to enhance bonding in close relationships.

Conditions

  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Interventions

DEVICE

Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation

The intervention consists of neurostimulation device that is programmed to a stimulus intensity at 0.5mA with a stimulation frequency of 25 Hz at the outer auditory canal.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
39 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-02-17
Primary Completion
2024-07-31
Completion
2024-07-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05899413 on ClinicalTrials.gov