Can we detect anxiety signals from the ear canal?

Researchers want to find out if they can detect a specific brain signal linked to anxiety by recording electrical activity from your outer ear canal—a simpler method than traditional brain scans. The study will test two medications that affect anxiety: triazolam and buspirone. Some participants will receive a placebo (a pill with no active ingredient) instead, so researchers can compare how each treatment affects the brain signal they're measuring.

Currently, anxiety is diagnosed based on interviews and questionnaires, which can be subjective and inconsistent. If researchers can identify a reliable biological marker for anxiety using a simple ear-based recording, it could lead to faster, more accurate diagnosis and better ways to monitor how well treatments are working.