Clinical trial NCT04246853: Effects of Non Invasive Brain Stimulation During Prolonged Experimental Pain
Official title: Effects of Non Invasive Brain Stimulation on Experimental Pain
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Pain
Prolonged Experimental Pain
Lead sponsor: Aalborg University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-01-29
Enrollment: 44
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 21
Maximum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: The current studies have a randomized, parallel, sham-controlled and double-blinded design.
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: Non invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) through transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been widely investigated in research and clinical settings in order to modulate brain plasticity and improve clinical pain. Interestingly, newly developed paradigms i.e. tDCS of the resting state motor network have proved higher modulatory effects in terms of corticospinal excitability when compared to traditional M1 tDCS.

However, little is known about the effects of tDCS on the frequency changes of alpha oscillations (alpha peaks).

Interestingly, previous studies show a correlation between reduced frequencies of alpha peaks during 1-hour experimental pain in comparison to baseline.

The present study aims to investigate the effects of tDCS of the resting state motor network on the frequency and power of alpha peaks during prolonged experimental pain during 24 hours.

Detailed description: There is evidence that chronic pain alters the frequency of alpha peaks. Specifically, recent studies showed a correlation between decreased frequency of alpha peaks and perceived pain. Furthermore, a correlation was found between high pain sensitivity and slower alpha oscillations during prolonged pain during 1 hour.

To date, the effects of prolonged experimental pain during 24 hours on brain oscillations has not been explored. Moreover, it is unknown whether non invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) through transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can revert these pain-related feature.

It is hypothesized that prolonged pain during 24 hours will reduce the frequency of alpha peaks and tDCS of the resting state motor network will revert it to baseline values.

Furthermore, it is thought that decreased frequency of alpha peaks will be correlated with perceived pain intensity on Day 1 (before receiving the first tDCS session).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Right-handed healthy men and women in the age 21-50 years who speak and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

* Lack of ability to cooperate
* History of chronic pain or current acute pain
* Pregnancy
* Drug addiction defined as the use of cannabis, opioids or other drugs
* Present and previous neurologic, musculoskeletal or mental illnesses
* Chili allergies
* Current use of medications that may affect the trial
* Contraindications to rTMS application (history of epilepsy, metal implants in head or jaw, etc.)
* Failure to pass the questionnaire for tDCS

Primary outcomes:
measure: Frequency of alpha peaks
timeFrame: 24 hours
measure: Perceived pain intensity
timeFrame: 24 hours
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Amplitude of alpha peak
timeFrame: 24 hours
measure: Power of alpha oscillations
timeFrame: 24 hours
Other outcomes:
measure: Amplitude of Mu-oscillations during motor imagery
timeFrame: 24 hours
Locations:
city: Aalborg
country: Denmark
facility: Aalborg University
state: Nordylland
Study officials:
References: