The Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) on Anxiety Responses and Emotional Regulation

January 18, 2026 updated by: Shuxia Yao, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

The Modulatory Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) on Anxiety Responses and Emotional Regulation

The main aim of this study is to investigate whether transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) can reduce anxiety and have an effect on emotional regulations

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive method for modulating vagal nerve function and has shown potential efficacy in alleviating anxiety symptoms and improving emotional regulation. But the neural mechanisms of how taVNS affects anxiety and emotional regulation remain unclear. Therefore, we focus on this question by combining behavioral meausres, skin conductance response, heart rate variability and fMRI in this study. A participant-blinded, sham-controlled, between-subject design is employed in this study. In a randomised order, a total of 140 healthy males and females with or without high trait anxiety are recruited and receive the stimulation of taVNS on their tragus (experimental group) or earlobe (sham control group). After the participants arrive at the laboratory, they first complete a roughly 30-minute personality trait questionnaire and prepare for the experiment. Then, they undergo a 7-minute resting-state fMRI scan, followed by a 15-minute taVNS session. Next, they complete a 7-minute resting-state scan and a 60-minute task-based scan (a modified emotional regulation task). During the entire procedure, saliva samples will be collected three times for subsequent physiological hormone analyses, and participants' skin conductance and electrocardiogram data will also be recorded. During the modified emotional regulation task, subjects are instructed to regulate their emotional responses to negative pictures (high vs. low intensity) using reinterpretation/distance strategies or to only look these pictures. We also record subjects' rating scores on their anxiety levels during these conditions ("reinterpretation" vs. "distance" vs. "look") and successful usage of emotional regulation strategies. Questionnaire scores including State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Autism Spectrum Quotient, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Social Responsiveness Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule will also be collected.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
140

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Sichuan
      • Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 611731
        • Recruiting
        • University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC)
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of head injury.
  • Medical or psychiatric illness.
  • Subjects take a certain drug for a long period of time.
  • Subjects have metal implants in their bodies.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Experiment and high trait anxiety group
male and female subjects with high trait anxiety and experimental treatment
Device: taVNS on tragus of subjects with high trait anxiety
15 minutes taVNS on tragus
Sham Comparator: Sham control and high trait anxiety group
male and female subjects with high trait anxiety and sham treatment
Device: taVNS on earlobe of subjects with high trait anxiety
15 minutes taVNS on earlobe
Experimental: Experiment and no high trait anxiety group
male and female subjects with no high trait anxiety and experimental treatment
Device: taVNS on tragus of subjects with no high trait anxiety
15 minutes taVNS on tragus
Sham Comparator: Sham control and no high trait anxiety group
male and female subjects with no high trait anxiety and sham treatment
Device: taVNS on earlobe of subjects with no high trait anxiety
15 minutes taVNS on earlobe

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Brain activity patterns in response to negative pictures during emotional regulation
Time Frame: 60 minutes
Subjects will receive task-based fMRI scanning (i.e., the modified emotional regulation task) after taVNS and two resting-state fMRI scanning sessions. We will examine these brain response patterns in the modified emotional regulation task via both the conventional univariate analysis and the machine learning-based multivariate pattern analysis.
60 minutes
Resting-state functional conetivity changes
Time Frame: 15 minutes
Subjects will receive resting-state fMRI scanning twice before and after taVNS. We will examine resting-state functional conetivity changes induced by taVNS via examining functional conetivity differences between pre- and post-taVNS sessions.
15 minutes
Behavioral indices in the task
Time Frame: 60 minutes
Anxiety and success ratings after each regulation trial are recorded in the task. Subjects are instructed to rate their anxiety and success levels using a 9-point Likert scale within 4 seconds (1 = not at all, 9 = very anxious or successful)
60 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Skin conductance responses (SCR) in the emotional regulation task during fMRI scanning
Time Frame: 60 minutes
Skin Conductance Response (SCR) data in response to negative pictures while using different regulation strategies are recorded in the emotional regulation task.
60 minutes
HRV in resting-state fMRI and emotional regulation task
Time Frame: 75 minutes during scanning
Heart beat variability (HRV) data are recorded in resting-state fMRI and emotional regulation task.
75 minutes during scanning
Saliva samples analysis
Time Frame: Three time points: pre-taVNS (baseline, 0 minute), immediate post-taVNS (60 minutes post-taVNS), and the end of experiment (70 minutes post-scanning).
Saliva samples will be collected three times for subsequent physiological hormone analysis.
Three time points: pre-taVNS (baseline, 0 minute), immediate post-taVNS (60 minutes post-taVNS), and the end of experiment (70 minutes post-scanning).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Shuxia Yao, Dr, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 9, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 16, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 16, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 29, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 18, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • UESTC-neuSCAN-97

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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