Effects of Acute Pain vs Context Change on Motor Learning Retention in Young Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To date, the effects of pain on motor learning have not been thoroughly investigated. When examining potential effects on retention of motor learning, it is important to dissociate any effects of pain from effects of a context change. The purpose of this research is to determine whether any altered retention of motor learning associated with acute pain is a true affect of pain or an affect of context (or both).

Official Title
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Effects of Acute Pain vs Context Change on Motor Learning Retention in Young Adults

Conditions
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Pain, Acute, Motor Activity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: pain delivery - learning only
* Procedure: pain delivery - learning and retention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Abbreviations: HR= heart rate, bpm= beats per minute; BP= blood pressure; ADD= attention deficit disorder; ADHD= attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; MoCA= Montreal Cognitive Assessment; GAD-7= Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Scale; PHQ-2, PHQ-9= Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and -9. Inclusion Criteria: 18-35 years old Self-identifying as generally medically healthy Able to read, write and speak English Able to provide informed consent Willing to undergo the experimental pain or non-painful electrical stimulation, if selected Exclusion Criteria: Resting HR < 50 or > 100 bpm Resting BP < 90/60 or > 140/95 mmHg Any history or current mental health condition, learning/developmental disability or cognitive impairment, including ADD/ADHD, severe anxiety, severe depression, autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, mild cognitive impairment, etc. Score on the MoCA <23 Score on the GAD-7 ≥ 10 Score on the PHQ-2 ≥ 2 and score on the PHQ-9 ≥ 10 Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis Any implanted electronic medical devices (i.e., cardiac pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, spinal cord neurostimulators) Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity or in the area targeted for the stimulus History of serious concussion or head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for > 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment, or > 2 concussions over the lifespan Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or > 1 fall in the last 12 months Taking 4 or more medications Currently or regularly using any analgesic medications, over-the-counter remedies, or any other treatment for the purposes of pain relief (i.e., baby aspirin for heart health permitted, etc.) Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus Skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus Prior participation in a locomotor learning study in this lab within the last 2 years

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Pain Stimulus - Learning Only<br>Capsaicin combined with heat applied to intact skin | Procedure: pain delivery - learning only<br>* Experimental pain paradigm delivered (capsaicin cream combined with heat) that is short-term and painful but not harmful. Applied to skin just during the Day 1 learning period.<br>|
| Experimental: Pain Stimulus - Learning and Retention<br>Capsaicin combined with heat applied to intact skin | Procedure: pain delivery - learning and retention<br>* Experimental pain paradigm delivered (capsaicin cream combined with heat) that is short-term and painful but not harmful. Applied to skin during the Day 1 learning period and again during the Day 2 retention period.<br>|
| No Intervention: No Stimulus<br>Nothing applied to skin | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Motor Retention Magnitude | degree to which the learned locomotor pattern has been remembered (in step length percent change, normalized to the amount learned from day 1) | 24 hours post learning (day 2) | 
| Motor Learning Magnitude | degree to which the new locomotor pattern has been acquired (in step length percent change) | immediately after learning (day 1) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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acute pain, young adults, pain, motor learning, motor consolidation, gait, locomotion, walking, generalization