Cervical Neuromodulation and Nociceptive Processing

Effect of the Neuromodulation of the Cervical Spinal Cord on Nociceptive Processing in Healthy Volunteers - a Randomized, Double-blinded Study

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT05127200

Acronym

MICROVOLT

Enrollment

Registered

2021-11-19

Start date

2022-05-24

Completion date

2022-12-05

Last updated

2023-07-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Nociceptive Pain

Keywords

tsDCS, non-invasive neuromodulation, healthy volunteers

Brief summary

Several studies have demonstrated that direct currents delivered through the skin at the level of the lumbar spinal cord can influence spinal cord function. In human volunteers, anodal lumbar transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) alters spinal processing of nociceptive inputs. Whether cervical tsDCS is able to do the same is less well known.

Detailed description

The investigators will compare the effects on the nociceptive processing of healthy volunteers of cervical and lumbar tsDCS. This study will be a double-blinded, sham-controlled, cross-over trial. Each participant will undergo two experimental sessions (anodal cervical tsDCS and sham lumbar tsDCS vs. sham cervical tsDCS and anodal lumbar tsDCS), separated by at least one week.

Interventions

DEVICEStarstim (Neuroelectrics)

Anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (a-tsDCS)

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 40 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

\- Healthy young adults

Exclusion criteria

* Known medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, neuropathy, psychiatric disorders, seizure, migraine, pacemaker or other implanted medical devices...) * Use of any medication (except contraception)

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in contact-heat evoked potentials amplitude	Change from Baseline, at 15-minutes after the end of stimulation	N2/P2 amplitude

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in intensity of perception to contact-heat nociceptive stimuli	Change from Baseline, at 15-minutes after the end of stimulation	Difference in temperature (°C) needed to elicit a pain sensation of similar intensity in the upper and lower limb
Change in temporal summation of pain	Change from Baseline, at 15-minutes after the end of stimulation	Wind-up ratio (WUR) to mechanical pinprick stimuli
Change in intensity of perception to mechanical pinprick nociceptive stimuli	Change from Baseline, at 15-minutes after the end of stimulation	Numerical rating scale (0-100)

Countries

Belgium

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026