NCT06667895

Pain Perception and the Autonomic Nervous System

Influences of the Autonomic Nervous System on Experimental Pain Sensitization

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 146 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Schweinhardt Petra · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

In this study, we want to investigate how pain processing and sensation are related to a certain part of the nervous system, the so-called autonomic nervous system. For this purpose, we apply heat and pressure stimuli to the skin and test pain processing by means of ratings scales and sensory tests. Breathing, heart rate and sweat response are also measured. To assess the spinal cord level, we measure muscle response (measured by electromyography, EMG) to electrical stimulation. Additionally, sensory nerves will be stimulated at the ear and participants will also be given various questionnaires to complete.

Detailed description

This study investigates the effects of autonomic regulation on pain perception and experimentally induced pain sensitivity. Participants come for one or two study visits, that will last approximately 3 hours. The study is divided into two phases: the pilot phase and the main experimental phase. During the pilot phase, the perception of pressure and heat stimuli, as well as spinal excitability, will be assessed before and during different types of electrical stimulation of sensory nerves at the outer ear. During the main experimental phase, skin sensitivity and spinal excitability will be assessed before and after repetitive heat stimulation and stimulation of sensory nerves at the outer ear. In both study phases, the activity of the autonomic nervous system will be assessed throughout the experiment, and questionnaires will be completed.

Conditions

• Autonomic Nervous System Modulation
• Pain Perception
• Pain Sensitivity
• Central Sensitization
• Vagus Nerve Stimulations

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	respiratory gated taVNS	Electrical stimulation will be delivered in bursts during expiration
OTHER	random burst stimulation	Electrical stimulation will be delivered in bursts at random timepoints during the breathing cycle
OTHER	continuous stimulation	Electrical stimulation will be delivered continuously for 30sec followed by a 30sec break.
OTHER	Sham stimulation	Electrical stimulation will be identical to the taVNS, but the electrodes will be placed at a different position on the ear

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-11-04
• Primary completion: 2026-08-01
• Completion: 2026-08-01
• First posted: 2024-10-31
• Last updated: 2024-10-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland