Pain Beliefs and Intracortical Excitability During Experimental Pain (NCT07688525) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Pain Beliefs and Intracortical Excitability During Experimental Pain
Canada30 participantsStarted 2026-08-01
Plain-language summary
Pain can influence the way the motor system functions. However, responses to pain vary widely between individuals, and this variability may be partly related to pain-related beliefs such as kinesiophobia.
This study examines whether temporary experimental pain changes intracortical excitability in the motor cortex, and whether this response differs according to baseline kinesiophobia. Healthy adults will complete one experimental session. Motor cortex excitability will first be assessed at baseline using transcranial magnetic stimulation, a non-invasive brain stimulation technique. A topical capsaicin cream will then be applied to the forearm to induce temporary, moderate experimental pain. Once pain is established, the same neurophysiological assessments will be repeated.
The main objective is to measure changes in short-interval intracortical inhibition before and during capsaicin-induced pain, with particular attention to whether these changes are associated with baseline kinesiophobia.
Secondary objectives are to characterize other markers of motor cortex excitability, including long-interval intracortical inhibition, short-interval intracortical facilitation, intracortical facilitation, and corticospinal excitability assessed using input-output recruitment curves. Pain intensity will be monitored using a visual analog scale to characterize the experimental pain response. Baseline kinesiophobia will be assessed using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia and examined as a factor associated with interindividual variability in neurophysiological responses to experimental pain.
The researchers expect that changes in motor cortex excitability during experimental pain will vary between individuals, and that individuals with higher kinesiophobia may show smaller changes in motor cortex excitability during capsaicin-induced pain.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 35 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Aged 18 to 35 years, inclusive
* Healthy
* Able to understand the study information and experimental procedures
* Able to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* History of psychiatric disorders (including intellectual disability or severe cognitive, behavioral, or affective impairment) that could interfere with understanding the study or providing informed consent.
* History of neurological disorders, including epilepsy, stroke, brain or spinal cord surgery, or any neurological disease affecting motor or sensory function.
Inability to provide informed consent (e.g., dementia, significant hearing impairment, insufficient language proficiency).
* Any pain condition within the past 3 months, regardless of origin.
* Recent musculoskeletal injury or surgery within the past 3 months.
* Contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), including a history of epilepsy or the presence of intracranial metallic objects, cochlear implants, or other non-removable metallic implants in or near the head.
* Use of analgesic or psychotropic medications.
* Individuals under legal guardianship or curatorship.
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
* Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electronic medical device.
* Known allergy or previous skin reaction to capsaicin
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in Short-Interval Intracortical Inhibition
Timeframe: At baseline (before capsaicin cream application); at pain stabilization (after capsaicin cream application)