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NCT Number: NCT06968689

Spatiotemporal Thalamocortical Alterations Underlie Experimental and Chronic Pain

The purpose of this study is to assess thalamocortical (TC) connectivity during tonic pressure pain, to evaluate alpha activity during tonic pressure pain and to determine pressure pain ratings by using Electroencephalography (EEG), Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS), sham and Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)

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Key information

Conditions

Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Meet the MRI / EEG screening criteria
  • Fluent in English

Exclusion criteria

  • Current or history of major medical, neurological, or psychiatric illness based on self-report
  • History of cardiac, respiratory, or nervous system disease that, in the investigator's judgment, precludes participation in the study because of a heightened potential for adverse outcome (for example: asthma or claustrophobia)
  • History of head trauma
  • Pregnant or lactating
  • Presence of any contraindications to MRI scanning (for example: cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, claustrophobia, pregnancy, cannot lie still in fMRI scanner)
  • Conditions making study participation difficult (e.g., paralysis, psychoses, or other severe psychological problems as per the judgment of a study investigator during Session 1)
  • Active substance abuse disorders (based on subject self-report)

Treatment and study plan

transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)

Device

Participants will get a personalized brain stimulation: a 2 milliampere (mA) oscillating current that matches their natural alpha brain wave frequency (8-12 Hz), determined by a quick 3-minute EEG before the session.

SHAM

Device

Active sham stimulation with 60- second -tACS will be applied , then ramp down, and be reintroduced in the last 30 seconds to minimize awareness of the experimental condition

transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS)

Device

Participants will still get stimulation, but at random frequencies between 1 and 200 Hz (instead of targeted alpha waves).

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in thalamocortical (TC) connectivity during tonic pressure pain using fMRI

    Time frame: pre-stimulation, post-stimulation (about 30 minutes)

  2. Change in alpha activity during tonic pressure pain using EEG

    Time frame: pre-stimulation, post-stimulation (about 30 minutes)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in pain as assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: pre-stimulation, post-stimulation (about 30 minutes)

    The VAS is scored from 0 = no pain; 10 = the most intense pain tolerable, higher number indicating more pain

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jada Malveaux

CONTACT

[email protected]

(713) 486-2700

Wen Li, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

(713) 486-2700

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Registry information

Official study title

Spatiotemporal Thalamocortical Alterations Underlie Experimental and Chronic Pain - Phase II

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
May 13, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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