Sex differences in how respiratory-gated tVNS affects brain, mood, and heart health in major depression
Official title: Project 2: Sex differences in the impact of respiratory-gated tVNS on brainstem connectivity, mood/anxiety, and neurovascular function in major depression
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11301318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at a major hospital will test whether a breathing-linked ear nerve stimulation helps mood and brain signals differently for men and women with major depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $202,788 |
| NIH project number | 2U54MH118919-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11301318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with major depressive disorder who may be eligible for noninvasive neuromodulation studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without major depressive disorder or who cannot safely participate in neuromodulation procedures.
What this research studies
This project will recruit adults with major depression to examine how respiratory-gated auricular vagal nerve stimulation (RAVANS) influences brain connectivity, mood and anxiety, and cardiovascular-related brain and nerve activity. The approach uses noninvasive stimulation tied to breathing to see if it changes activity in mood- and autonomic-regulating brain regions and brainstem circuits. The team will compare sex differences to understand why women may have higher cardiovascular risk in depression and how stimulation alters neural pathways tied to mood and physiological regulation. Data will come from neuroimaging, physiological measures, and mood assessments over multiple sessions. Findings could guide personalized non-drug therapies for mood disorders with cardiovascular considerations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to sex-informed, noninvasive treatments to improve mood and autonomic regulation in major depression.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests respiratory-gated vagal stimulation can modulate mood-related brain networks, with clearer signals in some groups; this study advances the sex-differences understanding.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garcia, Ronald G. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Garcia, Ronald G.
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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.