Cervical/Thoracic Neuromodulation and Nociceptive Processing (MICROVOLT2)

Université Catholique de Louvain

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Nociceptive Pain

Treatments: Device: thoracic a-tsDCS; Device: sham tsDCS; Device: cervical a-tsDCS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06367777

2024/14MAR/132

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 24 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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24 participants in 3 patient groups

Anodal cervical tsDCS

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive: 1. 20 minutes of 2.5 milliamperes (mA) anodal tsDCS at the cervical level. 2. 20 minutes of sham tsDCS at the low-thoracic level.

Treatment:

Device: cervical a-tsDCS

Anodal thoracic tsDCS

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive: 1. 20 minutes of sham tsDCS at the cervical level. 2. 20 minutes of 2.5 milliamperes (mA) anodal tsDCS at the low-thoracic level.

Treatment:

Device: thoracic a-tsDCS

Sham tsDCS

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive: 1. 20 minutes of sham tsDCS at the cervical level. 2. 20 minutes of sham tsDCS at the low-thoracic level.

Treatment:

Device: sham tsDCS