Tests ear-based vagus nerve stimulation in people recovering from stroke
Studies brain electrical activity and gene markers during ear stimulation in acute stroke patients.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: EEG Changes and DNA Markers Related to taVNS in Stroke Patients: a Preliminary Study
Key facts
- Where
- Pomona, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
Source: NCT06226493, who can take part
Where in United States
- Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for HealthcarePomona, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare
- Trial code
- NCT06226493
- Record updated
- 31 March 2026
- Original description
In the United States, more than 795,000 people have a stroke every year. Motor impairment after a stroke is common and can be debilitating. To date, there remain few treatments available to help improve motor recovery after a stroke, making this an important area of research. Novel use of neuromodulation such as Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) has been shown to improve motor recovery in stroke patients. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), in which the nerve is stimulated with electrical pulses, has demonstrated success for a variety of conditions, including inflammation, depression, cognitive dysfunction, chronic fatigue, headaches/migraines, pain, insomnia, and cardiovascular issues. Very recently, non-invasive options have been developed and might be a promising alternative. The research in this area is still very limited and much more research is needed to investigate non-invasive/trancutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) related biomechanisms and to further support its efficacy in acute patients. The purpose of this study is to build upon the current research to investigate changes in electrical brain activity (using electrophysiology) and genetic markers related to improvements in both motor and cognitive recovery following the use of taVNS vs. sham in acute stroke patients.Read full original descriptionShow less
EEG Changes and DNA Markers Related to Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) in Acute Stroke Patients: a Preliminary Study
In the United States, more than 795,000 people have a stroke every year. Motor impairment after a stroke is common and can be debilitating. To date, there remain few treatments available to help improve motor recovery after a stroke, making this an important area of research. Novel use of neuromodulation such as Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) has been shown to improve motor recovery in stroke patients. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), in which the nerve is stimulated with electrical pulses, has demonstrated success for a variety of conditions, including inflammation, depression, cognitive dysfunction, chronic fatigue, headaches/migraines, pain, insomnia, and cardiovascular issues. Very recently, non-invasive options have been developed and might be a promising alternative. The research in this area is still very limited and much more research is needed to investigate non-invasive/trancutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) related biomechanisms and to further support its efficacy in acute patients. The purpose of this study is to build upon the current research to investigate changes in electrical brain activity (using electrophysiology) and genetic markers related to improvements in both motor and cognitive recovery following the use of taVNS vs. sham in acute stroke patients.
Inclusion: First-time Cerebrovascular Accident (Ischemic or Hemorrhagic); Within a month post-injury; Presence of motor impairments (FMA-U≤62).
Exclusion: Previous surgical intervention on the vagus nerve; Alcohol or drug abuse; Advanced cardiac, pulmonary, liver, or kidney disease; Other musculoskeletal or neurologic diseases that could interfere with the outcome measures; Bradycardia (Resting HR < 60); Presence of Apraxia, Aphasia or confusion; Participation in other clinical trials.