Effects of Expectations on Hypoalgesia Produced by Mental Practice

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The main objective of this research work is to evaluate and quantify the hypoalgesia generated by motor imagery influenced by the presence of expectations.

Official Title
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Evaluation of the Influence of Cognitive Variables in Hypoalgesia Generated by Motor Imagery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Cognitive Change

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Positive Expectations (initial)
* Behavioral: Negative Expectations (initial)
* Behavioral: Neutral Expectations (initial)
* Behavioral: Positive Expectations (during intervention)
* Behavioral: Experimental: Negative Expectations (during intervention)
* Behavioral: Neutral Expectations (during intervention)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age between 18 and 60 Healthy and with no pain subjects Exclusion Criteria: Any cognitive impairment that hindered viewing of audiovisual material. Difficulty understanding or communicating. Presence of systemic pathology, Central Nervous System or rheumatic disease. Inadequate understanding of the Spanish language to follow instructions for measuring and treatment. Collaboration of pregnant women. Underage subjects Subjects with pain at the time of the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 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: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Positive Expectations (initial)<br> | Behavioral: Positive Expectations (initial)<br>* A positive expectation of the effect of motor imagery will be given before beginning the mental practice of imagination. This task will generate hypoalgesia<br>|
| Experimental: Negative Expectations (initial)<br> | Behavioral: Negative Expectations (initial)<br>* A negative expectation of the effect of motor imagery will be given before beginning the mental practice of imagination. This task will not generate hypoalgesia<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Neutral Expectations (initial)<br> | Behavioral: Neutral Expectations (initial)<br>* This group will act as a control. No expectations will be given that will influence the participant.<br>|
| Experimental: Positive Expectations (during intervention)<br> | Behavioral: Positive Expectations (during intervention)<br>* A positive expectation will be given during the performance of the mental practice. This is working very well<br>|
| Experimental: Negative Expectations (during intervention)<br> | Behavioral: Experimental: Negative Expectations (during intervention)<br>* A negative expectation will be given during the performance of the mental practice. This is working very bad<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Neutral Expectations (during intervention)<br> | Behavioral: Neutral Expectations (during intervention)<br>* This group will act as a control. No expectations will be given that will influence the participant.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain pressure threshold | Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) is one of these tests and it is defined as the minimum force applied which induces pain. The measurement shall be carried out by using an algometer (pressure device that induces mechanical stimuli) is to standardize the amount of pressure applied in the neck region. The reliability of pressure pain thresholds according to raters or measurement frequencies is relatively high. | Change from baseline and immediately post-intervention | 
| Thermal threshold | This variable will evaluate three aspects. Cold detection threshold, heat detection threshold and heat pain threshold. A specialized and validated instrument is used which consists of a sensor with a resistance that raises and lowers the temperature in a controlled way between 20 and 50ºC. | Change from baseline and immediately post-intervention | 
| Heart Rate | Heart Rate will be measured by three electrodes located in the left area of the chest. One of the electrodes is placed in the middle zone while a second electrode is positioned on the lateral side, and a third one on the lower left side, below the first electrode. | Change from baseline and immediately post-intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Motor imagery