The Air Force Research Laboratory is currently recruiting subjects for a research study designed to evaluate the efficacy of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) on flight skills.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a form of noninvasive peripheral nerve stimulation. You will be required to control an aircraft in a flight simulator while receiving VNS. This flight simulator will be presented either on standard computer monitors or in virtual reality (with motion). We will also collect physiological data (e.g. EEG, heart activity, and eye tracking measures).
The experiment will require multiple visits, which last about 2-5 hours each. We ask participants to return 30 days and 90 days after their initial participation. Compensation of $20/hour is available for your time. There is also the opportunity for additional compensation based on your performance. Time slots for visits will be scheduled at your convenience.
Requirements to Participate:
- Must be between the ages of 18-49 years old
- Must be a U.S. Citizen (unless you already have access to WPAFB)
- Fluent in English
- Non-smokers
- No history of emotional or medical problems
- Cannot currently be taking some prescription medications
You will be excluded from participating if any of the following apply to you:
- Non-removable metal or tattoos around the head/neck (e.g., stent, bone plate, or bone screw implanted at or near the neck)
- Scarring at the site of placement of the device (neck)
- Diagnosed with narrowing of the arteries (carotid atherosclerosis)
- Implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker, hearing aid implant, or any implanted electronic device
- Using another device at the same time (e.g., TENS unit, muscle stimulator) or any portable electronic device (e.g., mobile phone)
- Pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Women will be required to perform a urine pregnancy test within 72 hours of participation to ensure they are not pregnant
- Heart disease (e.g., clinically significant hypertension, hypotension, bradycardia, long QT interval, or tachycardia)
- History of fainting
- Severe concussion or brain/skull injury
- Have ever had surgery to cut the vagus nerve in the neck (cervical vagotomy)
- Neurological diagnosis
- Psychological diagnosis
- Psychological hospitalization
- Psychotropic medications
- Any medication which may affect alertness
- Vision impairments that cannot be corrected with vision aids
- Hearing impairment
- Problems with motor coordination (e.g., paralysis, dyspraxia, Tourette Syndrome, or any other condition that impairs the normal use of limbs or coordination of limb movements)
- Experience with the experimental stimuli (flight task or flight training)
- Color blindness
- Tobacco use
- Drug or alcohol treatment in the last 6 months
- Daily caffeine intake greater than 300 mg per day
- Alcohol consumption greater than 3 alcoholic beverages per day
- Body weight greater than 330 lbs
- Wear hearing aids
History of the following:
- Learning difficulty
- Psychological or psychiatric disorder
- Migraines or frequent headaches (1 per week or more)
- Epileptic seizures or photosensitivity
- Frequent eye strain when viewing a computer screen (i.e., eye strain occurs more than 50% of the time when using a computer)
- Recent head injury, mild concussion or neurodegenerative disease including brain cancer (within past 30 days)
- Severe skin allergies
- Diabetes
- Frequent motion (e.g. riding in a car, boat) or simulator (i.e. video games, virtual reality) sickness
If you decide to volunteer, you may withdraw from the study at any time. If interested in participating in this study, please email
Margaret.Bowers.2.ctr@us.af.mil.
This research was approved by Air Force Research Laboratory Institutional Review board under Protocol#FWR20210091H
Contact: Margaret.Bowers.2.ctr@us.af.mil