Nociceptive Pain
Conditions
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 low-thoracic spinal cord can influence spinal cord function. In human volunteers, anodal low-thoracic 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. In this double-blinded, sham-controlled and cross-over trial, the investigators will compare the effects on the nociceptive processing of healthy volunteers of cervical and low-thoracic tsDCS.
Detailed description
The investigators will compare the effects on the nociceptive processing of healthy volunteers of cervical and low-thoracic tsDCS. This study will be a double-blinded, sham-controlled, cross-over trial. Each participant will undergo three experimental sessions (anodal cervical tsDCS and sham thoracic tsDCS vs. sham cervical tsDCS and anodal thoracic tsDCS vs. sham cervical tsDCS and sham thoracic tsDCS), separated by at least one week.
Interventions
DEVICEcervical a-tsDCS
Anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (a-tsDCS)
DEVICEthoracic a-tsDCS
Anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (a-tsDCS)
DEVICEsham tsDCS
Sham transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (s-tsDCS)
Sponsors
Université Catholique de Louvain
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 | Throughout the entire study, approximately during 6 months | N2 amplitude |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in intensity of perception to contact-heat nociceptive stimuli | Throughout the entire study, approximately during 6 months | Numerical rating scale (0-100) |
| Change in skin temperature | Throughout the entire study, approximately during 6 months | Temperature (°C) |
| Change in cutaneous blood flow | Throughout the entire study, approximately during 6 months | LDF flow (PU) |
Countries
Belgium
Contacts
Primary ContactAndré Mouraux, MD, PhD
Backup ContactArnaud Steyaert, MD
Outcome results
None listed