Pain, Learning, and Nocebo (PIPLE)
Chronic Pain, Pain Syndrome
About this trial
This is an interventional basic science trial for Chronic Pain focused on measuring Nocebo, Pain, BOLD, fMRI, Conditioning
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Aged 18 - 35 years
- Good understanding of the English language
- Normal or corrected to normal vision
Exclusion Criteria:
A potential participant who meets any of the following exclusion criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
- History of serious or chronic medical or psychiatric conditions (e.g., convulsions (epilepsy), cardiovascular problems, depression; careful and detailed screening will be carried out for both medical and psychiatric conditions)
- History of chronic pain or itch conditions
- Experiencing pain or itch of 1 or more on a 0-10 pain / itch NRS on the day of testing
- Currently using antihistamines, analgesic medication, or itch-reducing medication (in the 24 hours prior to testing)
- Use of psychotropic drugs (including recreational drugs such as cannabis and psychotropic prescription-medication; in the past month)
- Currently being (or intending to become) pregnant, or currently breastfeeding, or planning to father a child in the next 3 months
- Colour-blindness
- Body Mass Index under 16 or over 30
- Meeting any exclusion criteria in the fMRI examination questionnaire which would prohibit fMRI scanning.
- Having too high of a threshold for pain (where high pain cannot be induced with temperatures lower than 49.5 °C).
Sites / Locations
- Leiden University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Augmented learning
Baseline learning
Conditioning and extinction of a nocebo response to the activation of a sham electrode, controlled within subjects. All participants in this arm receive a double-blind oral dose of DCS two hours prior to conditioning and fMRI
Conditioning and extinction of a nocebo response to the activation of a sham electrode, controlled within subjects. All participants in this arm receive a double-blind oral dose of placebo two hours prior to conditioning and fMRI