An interventional study of taVNS and taVNS in Healthy Adult, Role of Vagal Stimulation in Oxytocin Release and Role of Vagal Stimulation in Social Attention, sponsored by University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 30 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-01.
Sponsored by University of Electronic Science and Technology of China · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
The objectives of this study are to investigate:
The main questions it aims to answer are:
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.
In a placebo-controlled, single-blind, mixed-design experiment, investigators plan to determine whether taVNS modulates human social attention and whether such effects depend on oxytocin (OT) modulation.
Participants will first complete free-viewing and stressful tasks to establish baseline social attention. Consistent with prior studies, participants whose baseline data exceed ±3 SD will be excluded from the study. One week later, eligible participants will complete the Chinese-language versions of several questionnaires prior to intervention: the Behavioral Activation System Scale (BAS), Behavioral Inhibition System Scale (BIS), Trait Anxiety Inventory, State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI).
Next, the first saliva sample (T1: 1-2 mL, passive drool) will be collected, followed by 30-min non-invasive taVNS (left, right, or bilateral tragus) or sham (earlobe) intervention. A second saliva sample (T2) will be obtained immediately post-stimulation. Behavioral assessments - including free-viewing paradigms of social and non-social stimuli and a stressful antisaccade paradigm - will begin after T2 collection. Social-attention metrics (response time, errors, fixation duration, fixation counts, etc.) will be recorded using eye-tracking equipment.
Upon completion of the eye-tracking tasks, the third saliva sample (T3: \~20 min post-stimulation) will be collected. Participants will then repeat the State Anxiety and PANAS (mood) questionnaires to evaluate intervention-related changes in anxiety and mood. A fourth saliva sample (T4: \~30 min post-stimulation) will subsequently be obtained.
A mixed-linear model or mixed-model ANOVA, followed by appropriate post-hoc analyses, will be applied to eye-tracking behavioural data and questionnaires scores to evaluate intervention effects.
Investigators hypothesize that taVNS will increase social attention and oxytocin release, that social attention changes will be associated with the magnitude of oxytocin release and that bilateral tragus stimulation will be the most effective
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China is the lead sponsor of 112 studies on the registry; 37 are open to participants now.
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Healthy adults
Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects will receive bilateral ear lobe stimulation as a control for taVNS
Device: taVNS
Subjects will receive the taVNS only on the left tragus
Device: taVNS
Subjects will receive the right tragus stimuliation
Device: taVNS
Subjects will receive bilateral tragus stimulation
Device: taVNS
bilateral Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on earlobe
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on left tragus
Also known as: Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
taVNS only on the right tragus
taVNS on the bilateral tragus
Fixation time on different areas of interest (AOIs) in free viewing tasks
The total time spent viewing specific AOIs in free viewing tasks will be recorded
Time frame: baseline: one week before the stimulation; post: immediately after the 30 min sham (earlobe) or taVNS (transaural vagal stimulation) stimulation.
Fixation counts on different AOIs in free viewing tasks
The number of fixations on specific AOIs during presentation of visual stimuli will be recorded
Time frame: baseline: one week before the stimulation; post: immediately after the 30 min of sham or taVNS stimulation
Errors made in the stressful antisaccade task
The number of errors in the direction opposite to the required direction
Time frame: baseline: one week before the stimulation; post: immediately after the 30 min of sham or taVNS stimulation
Response time in the stressful antisaccade task
Time taken to make the first saccade towards the required direction
Time frame: baseline: one week before the stimulation; post: immediately after the 30 min sham or taVNS stimulation
Saliva oxytocin concentrations
Four saliva samples will be collected at different time points during the experiment and oxytocin concentrations measured by assay
Time frame: T1: baseline; T2: immediately after the 30 min sham or taVNS stimulation; T3: 20 mins after the stimulation; T4: 30 mins after the stimulation.
Saliva vasopressin concentrations
Four saliva samples will be collected at different time points during the experiment and vasopressin concentrations measured by assay
Time frame: T1: baseline; T2: immediately after the 30 min sham or taVNS stimulation; T3: 20 mins after the stimulation; T4: 30 mins after the stimulation.
State anxiety scores
Subjects will complete the State Anxiety Questionnaire before and after stimulation
Time frame: baseline: before the stimulation post: immediately after the 30 min sham or taVNS stimulation
Positive and negative affective schedule (PANAS) scores
Subjects will complete the PANAS questionnaire before and after stimulation
Time frame: baseline: before the stimulation; post: immediately after the 30 min sham or taVNS stimulation.
Plan to share: No
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