Pain Beliefs and Intracortical Excitability During Experimental Pain
Starting soon · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Kinesiophobia (Fear of Movement), Experimental Pain
In brief
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.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07688525
- Run by
- Université de Sherbrooke
- People needed
- 30
- Starts
- 2026-08-01
- Expected to finish
- 2026-12-31
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-07-07
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 35. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Aged 18 to 35 years, inclusive
- Healthy
- Able to understand the study information and experimental procedures
- Able to provide informed consent
You may not qualify if…
- 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
Where it is running
- Université de Sherbrooke - Campus de la santé — Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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