How do Alpha Oscillations Shape the Perception of Pain? - An EEG-based Neurofeedback Study

Technical University of Munich

Status

Completed

Conditions

Experimental Pain in Healthy Human Subjects

Treatments

Behavioral: attention left training, ALTNF

Behavioral: sham attention left training, ALTsham

Behavioral: sham attention right training, ARTsham

Behavioral: attention right training, ARTNF

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT05570695

09/2022

Details and patient eligibility

About

Pain is closely linked to alpha oscillations (8 -13 Hz) which are thought to represent a supra-modal, top-down mediated gating mechanism that shapes sensory processing. Consequently, alpha oscillations might also shape the cerebral processing of nociceptive input and eventually the perception of pain. To test this mechanistic hypothesis, the investigators designed a sham-controlled and double-blind electroencephalography (EEG)-based neurofeedback study. In a short-term neurofeedback training protocol, healthy participants will learn to up- and downregulate somatosensory alpha oscillations using attention. Subsequently, the investigators will investigate how this manipulation impacts experimental pain applied during neurofeedback. Using Bayesian statistics and mediation analysis, the investigators will test whether alpha oscillations mediate attention effects on pain perception. This approach promises causal insights into the role of alpha oscillations in shaping pain, and thereby extends previous correlative evidence. Beyond, it can aid the development of novel, non-invasive modulatory treatment approaches for chronic pain, which are urgently needed.

The prosed study protocol has been granted in-principle acceptance from PLOS Biology and the corresponding registration can be found at the OSF online repository [www.osf.io/qbkj2].

Enrollment

75 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 45 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

aged 18-45 years
right-handedness (laterality quotient > 60 on the Edinburgh handedness inventory)
good command of German
written informed consent
attendance at both sessions and compliance with instructions throughout the experiment

Exclusion criteria

pregnancy
neurological or psychiatric diseases (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, depression, anxiety disorders)
severe general illnesses (e.g., tumors, diabetes)
skin diseases (e.g., dermatitis, psoriasis or eczema)
current or recurrent pain
regular intake of medication (aside from contraception, thyroidal, and antiallergic medication)
surgical procedures involving the head or spinal cord
side-effects following previous thermal stimulation
contact to a person with a SARS-CoV-2 infection within the last 2 weeks
current symptoms of a cold or flu