At-home transcutaneous auricular neuromodulation (tAN) for women with postpartum depression: an open label trial

Date Added
March 3rd, 2026
PRO Number
Pro00149664
Researcher
Jeffrey Borckardt

List of Studies


Keywords
Anxiety, Depression, Women's Health
Summary

This is an open-label pilot study firstly assessing safety and feasibility of a form of ear stimulation called transcutaneous auricular neuromodulation, or tAN, in women with postpartum depression (PPD). Secondly, we will be assessing the impact of at-home tAN on mood, empathy, and physiological markers of sympathetic activity in women with PPD. Participants will learn how to self-administer ear stimulation treatments in the lab before starting the at-home study. Over the course of one week, participants will self-administer ear stimulation treatments three times a day. Each treatment will last up to 60 minutes (1 hour) and there will be a break of at least 30 minutes in between treatments. The study team will ask participants to complete a group of questionnaires at the beginning and end of the study, as well as undergo heart rate variability (HRV) assessments and provide salivary samples. There will also be a smaller number of questionnaires completed electronically at the midpoint of the study. The questionnaires will ask questions about mental health symptoms that subjects may or may not be experiencing, including questions about mood, anxiety, and feelings towards their newborn.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Nicole Cash
843-792-9502
cashni@musc.edu

Modulation of Olfactory Valence by Transcranial Focused Ultrasound (tFUS)

Date Added
May 5th, 2026
PRO Number
Pro00150452
Researcher
Bernadette Cortese

List of Studies


Keywords
Healthy Volunteer Studies
Summary

We are recruiting healthy volunteers, age 18-65, for a 4-visit study designed to test whether brief non-invasive brain stimulation, called transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS), changes how adults process pictures and odors. In addition to 3 tFUS sessions, the study procedures also include one 30-minute magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session and four 1-hour encephalography (EEG) sessions during which we will measure brain structure and function. Each of the 4 visits last about 2-3 hours and should occur over a 2-4-week time period. Compensation is available to those that qualify.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Nicole Cash
843-790-3449
cashni@musc.edu



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