Investigation of Vagus Nerve Stimulation to Augment Executive Functioning
Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Device
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY
This study plans to learn more about how stimulating the vagus nerve through gentle electrical stimulation applied to the ear can affect decision-making, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities. This process, called transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), could help improve brain function in both healthy individuals and people with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 65
Healthy Volunteers: t
View:
• Individuals aged 18-65.
• Ability to sign informed consent.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• For the PD group, a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease without severe motor or cognitive impairments.
Locations
United States
Colorado
Clinical Translational Research Center at CU Anschutz
RECRUITING
Aurora
Contact Information
Primary
Elise R Carter
elise.carter@cuanschutz.edu
3094335932
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-05-19
Estimated Completion Date: 2028-05
Participants
Target number of participants: 80
Treatments
Experimental: active stimulation (healthy controls)
Healthy participants in this arm will receive active transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
Sham_comparator: sham stimulation (healthy controls)
Participants in this arm will receive sham stimulation that does not target the vagus nerve
Experimental: active stimulation (Patients with Parkinson's Disease)
Participants with PD in this arm will receive active transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
Sham_comparator: sham stimulation (patients with Parkinson's Disease)
Participants with PD in this arm will receive sham stimulation that does not target the vagus nerve
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: University of Colorado, Denver