The Effect of Nonverbal Vocalisations on Pain Tolerance (VOCPAIN)

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Index measurement NOL™; Behavioral: Cold pressor task (CPT); Behavioral: Acoustic Recordings; Diagnostic Test: Video pupillometry

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04425395

2020-A00277-32 (Other Identifier)

19CH216

Details and patient eligibility

About

Humans produce non-verbal vocalizations (shouting, growling, screaming), laughter, ...) in various contexts that are likely to perform biological functions.

and important social issues. Yet despite their importance in the human vocal repertoire, the mechanisms and functions of non-verbal vocalizations remain little studied and poorly understood including in humans. In this context, the investigators wish to examine how the production of vocalizations non-verbal communication influences pain tolerance in healthy adults.

Full description

Humans produce nonverbal vocalisations such as screams, grunts, roars, cries and laughter across a variety of contexts. Yet despite the prominence and apparent importance of these nonverbal sounds in human communication, the investigators still know very little about their influence on human perception and behaviour. That's why, in this study, the investigators will examine specifically the influence of nonverbal vocal production on pain tolerance.

The remainder of the study will involve up to three trials of a pain tolerance (cold pressor) task, during which the investigators will ask participants to produce vocalisations (e.g., screams or words) while submerging the participant's hand in bath of circulating cold water.

The results of the study will contribute to our theoretical understanding of the functions of nonverbal vocal communication in humans, in particular the influence of nonverbal vocal production (i.e., yelling) on pain tolerance.

Enrollment: 104 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participant in good health
• Affiliated or entitled participant in a social security scheme
• Participant who has received informed information about the study and has co-signed a consent to participate in the study with the investigator.

Exclusion criteria

• Chronic pain
• High blood pressure or poor circulation
• Cardiac or vascular disease, or a heart condition (including symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome)
• Allergy or hypersensitivity to cold
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Pregnancy
• Recent serious injury
• Neurological or psychiatric condition known to affect pain tolerance (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, schizophrenia)
• History of fainting or seizures
• History of frostbite
• Chronic smoker (more than 10 cigarettes a day)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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104 participants in 1 patient group

Healthy adult population aged 18 to 60 years.

Experimental group

Description:

Their pain tolerance will be tested using the Cold Pressor Task while producing vocalisations. Produced vocalisations will be audio recorded and physiological measures will be taken using two techniques: Nociception Level Index and video pupillometry.

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Video pupillometry

Behavioral: Acoustic Recordings

Behavioral: Cold pressor task (CPT)

Diagnostic Test: Index measurement NOL™