Actively Recruiting
Brain-Stomach Circuits in Chronic Nausea
Led by David Levinthal · Updated on 2026-01-30
219
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
282 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
D
David Levinthal
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this study is to determine whether stimulation of the brain-stomach connection can influence stomach activity in healthy adults and in individuals suffering from chronic nausea. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What are the best brain sites to influence the stomach? * What are the effects of different stimulation patterns on stomach activity? * Does the stimulation affect the sensation of nausea in participants suffering from chronic nausea? Researchers will use a non-invasive method of brain stimulation called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and will record stomach responses with skin electrodes on the abdomen. Participants will: * Visit the clinic at least once, and for up to 9 times more over the course of several months. * Receive TMS while sitting in a chair similar to a dentist's chair. * Drink water or consume a test meal during each study visit.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Brain-Stomach Circuits in Chronic Nausea
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults between ages 21-60 years old, with and without CNVS diagnosis per self-report.
You will not qualify if you...
- Body mass index (BMI) > 30
- Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant
- Past or present chemotherapy
- Diagnosis of gastric (stomach) cancer
- Any kind of gastric (stomach) surgery
- Current use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g. Ozempic, Trulicity)
- Use of medications that significantly lower seizure thresholds (e.g. bupropion, fluoxetine, tramadol)
- Presence of implantable devices such as pacemakers or nerve stimulators
- History of head injury requiring hospitalization, metal in skull, or neurologic disease such as stroke, seizures, or syncope
- Neurodegenerative diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, or Alzheimer's
- Ongoing psychosis or altered cognitive status
- History of cardiovascular, pulmonary, or endocrine disease
- Current enrollment in another TMS study
- Current use of certain drugs (amphetamines, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, Ketamine, PCP, cocaine) or drinking 3 or more alcoholic drinks daily
- For healthy subjects only: chronic gastrointestinal symptoms
- For CNVS subjects only: diagnosis of gastric motility disorder or history of bowel obstruction
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15232
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
P
Paul HM Kullmann, PhD
CONTACT
D
David J Levinthal, MD PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
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