Auricular stimulation for chronic low back pain: brain changes measured with noninvasive imaging
Official title: A mechanistic neuroimaging study to determine brain changes with auricular stimulation and auriculotherapy in healthy volunteers and chronic low back pain patients
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11325702 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A noninvasive study tests whether ear-based stimulation changes brain activity and connectivity in healthy volunteers and people with chronic low back pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $655,046 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AT013058-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325702 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic low back pain who are eligible for the clinical trial phase of the study.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy volunteers may not experience pain relief, and some patients may not respond to auricular stimulation.
What this research studies
This project uses brain imaging to understand how ear stimulation affects brain networks involved in pain. It starts with healthy volunteers using a simple skin touch test to map brain responses, then moves to a randomized, double-blind trial in chronic low back pain patients to compare real ear stimulation with a sham. The study will examine brain activity with fNIRS and resting-state MRI before and after stimulation, including a crossover after a washout period. The goal is to uncover neural mechanisms that could explain pain relief from auriculotherapy and inform future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could clarify how auricular stimulation alters brain networks and support development of low-cost, non-drug treatments for chronic pain.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests brain network changes with auricular therapies, but this study adds a mechanistic, multi-modal imaging approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vogt, Keith Michael — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Vogt, Keith Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Ketamine-assisted care plan to help Veterans with chronic back pain and depression
A program for Veterans with chronic low back pain and depression that uses ketamine infusions followed by a brief narrative therapy to sustain relief from pain and mood improvement.
-
Savoring Meditation for Chronic Low Back Pain patients
A study tests a brief mindfulness-based practice called Savoring Meditation to help people with chronic low back pain feel better emotionally and manage pain in daily life.
-
Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults and Hip Impairments
A study to help older adults with chronic low back pain, by looking at how hip problems affect their pain and function and testing tailored non-drug treatments.
-
Mechanical signs from the spine’s discs that predict when back pain becomes long-lasting
A Duke study aims to use new imaging and personal factors to see if the mechanical health of spinal discs can predict when acute low back pain becomes chronic.
-
Genetic predictors of recovery and surgical outcomes for Veterans with chronic low back pain and lumbosacral spine disorders
This project uses VA health records and genetic information to find DNA markers linked to how Veterans fare with chronic low back pain and related spine conditions.
-
Personalized multicomponent therapy for chronic low back pain using smart patient-based algorithms
A U-Michigan-led effort tests a personalized approach to chronic low back pain by tailoring several treatments to individual patients using smart, data-driven decision rules.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.