Real-Time fMRI Feedback Effects on Pain Perception
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 20
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Average Pain Rating
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging may be a viable treatment for chronic pain in the future.
Detailed Description
Twenty-four healthy volunteers will undergo a series of four fMRI scanning sessions wherein thermal pain stimuli will be used to elicit activation of the pain neuro-matrix. All participants will undergo thermal pain threshold testing before and after fMRI scan. Participants will also rate the painfulness and unpleasantness of the thermal stimuli applied before fMRI and after fMRI. All participants will be given prompts to apply a set of cognitive pain-control strategies. Half of the participants will receive real-time fMRI feedback of activity in the Right Anterior Cingulate Cortex (rACC) and the other half will receive real-time fMRI feedback of activity in the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC). It is hypothesized that those receiving real-time feedback of brain activity thought to be involved with analgesic effects will demonstrate greater analgesia associated with the application of the cognitive control techniques after fMRI paradigm (decreased pain intensity and unpleasantness ratings and increased thermal pain thresholds) than those who are not given feedback before fMRI paradigm.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Other
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Healthy adults ages 18-65
Exclusion Criteria
- •Clinical depression
- •Substance dependence or chronic pain
- •Ferrous metal implants
- •Cardiac pacemakers or other implanted medical devices that might be adversely impacted by the MRI scanner magnetic field
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Average Pain Rating
Time Frame: Before and After fMRI Paradigm, an average of 2 hours
All participants will undergo thermal pain threshold testing directly before (Baseline) and after MRI scan.Participants will be asked to rate painfulness of the thermal stimuli applied, on a scale of 0-10, before the fMRI Paradigm (Baseline) and directly after the fMRI paradigm (after MRI). 0="no pain" and 10="worst pain imaginable"
Average Unpleasantness
Time Frame: Before and After fMRI Paradigm, an average of 2 hours
All participants will undergo thermal pain threshold testing directly before (Baseline) and after MRI. Participants will be asked to rate pain unpleasantness, on a scale of 0-10, before the fMRI Paradigm (Baseline) and directly after the fMRI paradigm (after MRI). 0="no unpleasantness" and 10="worst unpleasantness imaginable"
Ability to Distract
Time Frame: Before and After fMRI Paradigm, an average of 2 hours
All participants will undergo thermal pain threshold testing before and after fMRI paradigm. Participants will rate the ability to distract themselves from the thermal stimuli, on a scale of 0-10, before fMRI paradigm (Baseline) and after fMRI paradigm, 0="not able to distract at all" and 10="completely able to distract". A Higher rating represents greater ability to distract from thermal pain stimuli.
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported