Investigating brain changes from ear stimulation in chronic low back pain patients
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-11020630 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a gentle ear treatment called auriculotherapy can help ease chronic low back pain by checking how it affects brain activity, and it's open to both healthy people and those dealing with 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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $721,428 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AT013058-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11020630 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals suffering from chronic low back pain who are seeking alternative treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute back pain or those who do not respond to non-invasive treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the effects of auriculotherapy, a non-invasive treatment that stimulates specific points on the ear, to alleviate chronic low back pain. It aims to understand how this treatment alters brain activity and connectivity using advanced neuroimaging techniques. The study will involve both healthy volunteers and patients with chronic low back pain, assessing brain responses before and after treatment. By comparing real and sham treatments, the research seeks to provide scientific evidence for the effectiveness of auriculotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new, effective, and non-opioid treatments for chronic low back pain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results for auriculotherapy in pain management, but this study aims to provide a deeper mechanistic understanding.
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
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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.