fMRI Evaluation of Auricular Acupuncture Targets: An Exploratory Clinical Study

Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Healthy Participants

Treatments: Device: Effect of Verum Auricular Acupuncture on Resting-State Brain Function in Healthy Subjects: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Study; Device: Sham Auricular Acupuncture as a Control Intervention for Brain fMRI Studies in Healthy Volunteers

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07332962

LSKY 2025-175-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study employs resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to examine whether auricular press needles acupuncture modulates functional connectivity between the insula and medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), in a manner comparable to transcranial vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), and to assess its association with interoceptive improvement. By establishing a neurophysiological baseline for auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) in the healthy brain, the research aims to clarify its regulatory mechanisms in cognition and emotion. The findings provide a key theoretical and evaluative framework for translating aVNS into clinical applications for insomnia and depression.

Enrollment: 32 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 18-30 years;
2. Basically normal diet and sleep;
3. No history of mental illness;
4. No MRI contraindications (e.g., metal implants or pacemakers) or claustrophobia；
5. Willing to participate in this study and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

1. Presence of auricular skin lesions or allergy to adhesive ear patches;
2. Currently receiving regular acupuncture treatment;
3. History of bleeding disorders or anticoagulant use (increased bleeding risk);
4. Previous history of syncope during acupuncture.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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32 participants in 2 patient groups

The experimental group used disposable sterile auricular press needles

Experimental group

Treatment:

Device: Effect of Verum Auricular Acupuncture on Resting-State Brain Function in Healthy Subjects: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Study

The control group received a needle-free, disposable, sterile auricular press needles.

Sham Comparator group

Treatment:

Device: Sham Auricular Acupuncture as a Control Intervention for Brain fMRI Studies in Healthy Volunteers