The Effect of Nonverbal Vocalisations on Pain Tolerance

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Behavioral: Cold pressor task (CPT); Behavioral: Acoustic Recordings; Diagnostic Test: Index measurement NOL™; Diagnostic Test: Video pupillometry

• Registration Number: NCT04425395
• Lead Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne

Brief Summary

Humans produce non-verbal vocalizations (shouting, growling, screaming), laughter, ...) in various contexts that are likely to perform biological functions.

and important social issues. Yet despite their importance in the human vocal repertoire, the mechanisms and functions of non-verbal vocalizations remain little studied and poorly understood including in humans. In this context, the investigators wish to examine how the production of vocalizations non-verbal communication influences pain tolerance in healthy adults.

Detailed Description

Humans produce nonverbal vocalisations such as screams, grunts, roars, cries and laughter across a variety of contexts. Yet despite the prominence and apparent importance of these nonverbal sounds in human communication, the investigators still know very little about their influence on human perception and behaviour. That's why, in this study, the investigators will examine specifically the influence of nonverbal vocal production on pain tolerance.

The remainder of the study will involve up to three trials of a pain tolerance (cold pressor) task, during which the investigators will ask participants to produce vocalisations (e.g., screams or words) while submerging the participant's hand in bath of circulating cold water.

The results of the study will contribute to our theoretical understanding of the functions of nonverbal vocal communication in humans, in particular the influence of nonverbal vocal production (i.e., yelling) on pain tolerance.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-06-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-06-09
• Study First Posted: 2020-06-11
• Study Start: 2022-05-11
• Status Verified: 2024-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-06-24
• Last Update Posted: 2024-06-25
• Primary Completion: 2026-05
• Study Completion: 2026-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 104

Inclusion Criteria

• Participant in good health
• Affiliated or entitled participant in a social security scheme
• Participant who has received informed information about the study and has co-signed a consent to participate in the study with the investigator.

Exclusion Criteria

• Chronic pain
• High blood pressure or poor circulation
• Cardiac or vascular disease, or a heart condition (including symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome)
• Allergy or hypersensitivity to cold
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Pregnancy
• Recent serious injury
• Neurological or psychiatric condition known to affect pain tolerance (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, schizophrenia)
• History of fainting or seizures
• History of frostbite
• Chronic smoker (more than 10 cigarettes a day)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Healthy adult population aged 18 to 60 years.	Cold pressor task (CPT)	Their pain tolerance will be tested using the Cold Pressor Task while producing vocalisations. Produced vocalisations will be audio recorded and physiological measures will be taken using two techniques: Nociception Level Index and video pupillometry.
Healthy adult population aged 18 to 60 years.	Acoustic Recordings	Their pain tolerance will be tested using the Cold Pressor Task while producing vocalisations. Produced vocalisations will be audio recorded and physiological measures will be taken using two techniques: Nociception Level Index and video pupillometry.
Healthy adult population aged 18 to 60 years.	Index measurement NOL™	Their pain tolerance will be tested using the Cold Pressor Task while producing vocalisations. Produced vocalisations will be audio recorded and physiological measures will be taken using two techniques: Nociception Level Index and video pupillometry.
Healthy adult population aged 18 to 60 years.	Video pupillometry	Their pain tolerance will be tested using the Cold Pressor Task while producing vocalisations. Produced vocalisations will be audio recorded and physiological measures will be taken using two techniques: Nociception Level Index and video pupillometry.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pain tolerance	at inclusion	Delay (in seconds) in removing the hand when testing the Cold Pressor.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pain intensity	at inclusion	Subjective assessment of maximum pain intensity by participants for a given trial.; Measured by scale of 0 (no pain) at 100 (extreme pain).
Analysis of Acoustic Recordings	at inclusion	Using a dedicated script in software specialised in acoustic analysis (e.g. PRAAT).
Onset of pain	at inclusion	Participant verbally indicates when he or she begins to feel the sensation of pain (time of onset measured in seconds)
correlation between NOL index and pupillary diameter	at inclusion	Measurement of the NOL index (index ranging from 0 to 100) and measurement of pupillary diameter (in mm) and its variations in response to nociceptive stimuli by video pupillometry.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Etienne; 🇫🇷 Saint-Étienne, France