Frequency Effects of Transcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) on Brain and Autonomic Function
Condition(s) studied
Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)
2Hz Transcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation: Active electrical stimulation applied over the skin of the forehead targeting the branches of the trigeminal nerve. The stimulation frequency is set at 2Hz. It is synchronized with the fMRI sequence and continuous physiological monitoring (respiration and photoplethysmography).
120Hz Transcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation: Active electrical stimulation applied over the skin of the forehead targeting the branches of the trigeminal nerve. The stimulation frequency is set at 120Hz. It is synchronized with the fMRI sequence and continuous physiological monitoring (respiration and photoplethysmography).
Sham Transcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation: An inactive or sensory-matched sham electrical stimulation designed to mimic the physical sensation of the device being active without delivering the therapeutic frequencies (2Hz or 120Hz). It is administered synchronously with the fMRI BOLD sequence and physiological monitoring to serve as a baseline comparator.
Study summary
This study aims to investigate how different frequencies of transcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) affect brain activity and the autonomic nervous system in healthy individuals. Participants will undergo a 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan while receiving three different types of nerve stimulation: 2Hz eTNS, 120Hz eTNS, and a sham (inactive) stimulation. The order of these stimulations will be randomly assigned. During the brain scan, researchers will simultaneously monitor the participants' breathing and heart rhythms (using a finger sensor). The main goal is to understand how changing the frequency of eTNS influences the connection between the brain's networks and the body's unconscious physiological responses.
Eligibility
Primary outcome measure(s)
- Difference in Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent (BOLD) Signal Amplitude in the Brainstem — During the 7-minute and 30-second fMRI scan for each stimulation condition.
The metric is the percent signal change in BOLD amplitude within predefined Regions of Interest (ROIs) of the brainstem (e.g., trigeminal nuclei, locus coeruleus, nucleus tractus solitarii). It is calculated as the BOLD signal difference between the 30-second stimulation "ON" blocks and the 30-second "OFF" blocks. Data will be aggregated as the mean percentage of BOLD signal change for each stimulation condition.
Trial sites (1)
| Facility | City | Region | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xidian University | Xi'an | Shaanxi | Recruiting |
More Xidian University trials in China
Other trials for the same condition
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
View NCT07662291 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ ← All trials in China