Pain Perception and the Autonomic Nervous System

Launched by SCHWEINHARDT PETRA · Oct 30, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how our bodies sense and process pain, particularly looking at a part of the nervous system called the autonomic nervous system. Researchers will apply heat and pressure to the skin and measure how participants react to these sensations, including their heart rate, breathing, and sweat response. They will also assess how the spinal cord responds to electrical stimulation and gather information through questionnaires.

To participate in this study, you need to be between 18 and 40 years old and in good general health. Unfortunately, those with major medical conditions, chronic pain, or certain lifestyle habits (like high alcohol or caffeine consumption) won't be eligible. If you join the study, you can expect to engage in various tests that will help researchers understand the relationship between pain and the autonomic nervous system. Remember, this study is not yet recruiting participants, so there will be more information to come!

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Over 18 and below 40 years of age
• • 2. Good general health
• • 3. Able to give informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Any major medical or psychiatric condition (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, major depressive disorder), any chronic pain condition, any respiratory problems, any acute pain at time of study
• • 2. Inability to follow study instructions, e.g. due to language problems
• • 3. Pregnancy (female participants will be asked if pregnancy could be possible)
• • 4. Increased alcohol (\>2 (for women)/4 (for men) standard glasses per day or \>5 (for women)/4 (for men) glasses at least once a month within a few hours) or caffeine consumption (≥ 400mg per day)
• • 5. Consumption of alcohol, drugs, analgesics within the last 24 h
• • 6. Consumption of more than 100 mg of caffeine within the last 8 h
• • 7. Scar tissue or generally reduced sensitivity in the designated testing site areas
• • 8. Shoe size \< 38 (if experiment is conducted at the feet)
• • 9. History of cardiovascular disease or carotid artery disease
• • 10. Medication or Substances inferring with the autonomic nervous system or with pain sensitivity (e.g. Benzodiazepines, Nicotine)