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

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Pain, Acute; Motor Activity
• Interventions: Procedure: pain delivery - learning and retention; Procedure: pain delivery - learning only

• Registration Number: NCT05626582
• Lead Sponsor: University of Delaware

Brief Summary

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).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-11-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-11-20
• Study First Posted: 2022-11-23
• Study Start: 2023-04-11
• Primary Completion: 2024-05-15
• Study Completion: 2024-05-31
• Status Verified: 2024-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-07-11
• Last Update Posted: 2024-07-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 61

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Pain Stimulus - Learning and Retention	pain delivery - learning and retention	Capsaicin combined with heat applied to intact skin
Pain Stimulus - Learning Only	pain delivery - learning only	Capsaicin combined with heat applied to intact skin

Primary Outcome Measures

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

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Delaware; 🇺🇸 Newark, Delaware, United States