SPARK-VNS: Facilitating Adaptive Posttraumatic Processing With Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Wayne State University
Summary
The goal of this study is to determine how non-invasive brain stimulation (delivered through the ear called vagus nerve stimulation) affects fear learning processes in people who have experienced psychological trauma. To answer these questions, we measure bodily responses (heart rate, sweat, startle) and questionnaires. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation help reduce anxious arousal? Does non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation help dampen learned fear?
Description
This study aims to determine how non-invasive brain stimulation (delivered through the ear) affects learning processes. During this study, participants who have experienced a trauma will be asked to complete surveys and come to the lab for about 7 hours across four lab visits. Researchers will measure body responses (heart rate, skin conductance, startle), while the ear is stimulated. Participants also will be asked to complete a startle task. The study is at the Wayne State University Tolan Park Research Clinic. Participants will be compensated for their time. To be eligible, participants mus…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Ages 18-80 2. Fluent in English 3. Experience with a DSM-5 Criterion A trauma (LEC-5) 4. Probable PTSD (PCL-5 ≥ 32) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Visual or Auditory impairment 2. Major injury at time of screen or study procedures 3. Taking ≥20 mg morphine per day 4. Current substance use or intoxication (12-panel drug test) 5. Intellectual disability (MoCA) 6. Self-inflicted injury 7. Occupational injury 8. Prisoner 9. Ongoing domestic violence 10. Pregnant or breastfeeding 11. Contraindications for taVNS
Interventions
- Devicetranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
FDA-cleared Digitimer DS7A Constant Current Stimulator (Digitimer Ltd., USA) will deliver electrical stimulation for 60 mins. Active stimulation will consist of direct electrical stimulation to the inner side of the left tragus (anode on the cymba concha, cathode on the surface of the tragus), thereby stimulating the ABVN. Stimulation parameters will consist of 500μs pulse width, 25Hz frequency, delivered at 200% of each participant's individual perceptual threshold (PT) in 60sec on/off trains.
- Devicesham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation
FDA-cleared Digitimer DS7A Constant Current Stimulator (Digitimer Ltd., USA) will deliver electrical stimulation for 60 mins. Sham will be delivered to the ear lobe. Stimulation parameters will consist of 500μs pulse width, 25Hz frequency, delivered at 200% of each participant's individual perceptual threshold (PT) in 60sec on/off trains.
Location
- Tolan Park Research Clinic, Wayne State UniversityDetroit, Michigan