RECRUITING

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Modulation of Affect and Pain

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

This double-blind randomized crossover study aims to examine the effects of left primary motor cortex (M1) tDCS on evoked thermal pain perception, pain-related decision making, and placebo effects by manipulated pain and monetary offers accepted by others. The investigators plan to collect data for up to 50 participants who undergo four separate sessions: an initial pain calibration session and three experimental sessions with either anodal, cathodal, or sham tDCS. Each session includes pain testing before and after a single tDCS protocol (either anodal, cathodal, or sham), a pain-monetary decision-making task, and social placebo pain tests. All tasks following tDCS will take place inside the MR scanner. The investigators hypothesize that anodal M1 tDCS will decrease pain ratings, and that cathodal tDCS will increase them, both relative to the sham condition. The investigators will also examine the effects of M1 tDCS on social decision-making to examine whether it affects participants' valuation of pain and their altruistic behavior, as well as how these same factors impact pain sensation in the placebo task. The investigators hypothesize that participants will behave hyperaltruistically during the decision-making task, and that the same factors that influence choice will also impact pain perception in the same context.

Official Title

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Modulation of Affect and Pain

Quick Facts

Study Start:2023-09-09
Study Completion:2026-09
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT06989749

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:18 Years to 55 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:Yes
Standard Ages:ADULT
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * ages 18-55
  2. * Participants must be capable of performing experimental tasks (e.g., are able to read)
  3. * Fluent or native speakers of English
  1. * No self-reported current or history of depression, bipolar disorder, or other psychiatric diagnosis.
  2. * No self-reported current seizure disorder (i.e., seizure within past 10 years)
  3. * No history of stroke or other major neurological diagnosis.
  4. * No self-reported current chronic pain, or acute pain within three months of the study period.
  5. * No current migraine disorder (i.e., 15 headache days or more in 1 month).
  6. * No use of central nervous system-effective medication or other medication for neurological/psychiatric treatment. No self-reported substance abuse within the last six months.
  7. * No contraindication to MRI or tDCS (e.g., pregnancy, claustrophobia, pacemakers, ear/cochlear implants, shrapnel injuries, clips, or other ferromagnetic/electrical objects/devices, diagnosed brain abnormality such as tumor, or skin lesions on the scalp.).
  8. * No contraindications for induced pain (e.g., no heart disease, high blood pressure, heart surgery, heart problems of any kind, severe asthma, respiratory problems of any kind, fibromyalgia, Raynaud's Syndrome or Disease, chronic pain, diabetes).

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

Tor Wager D Principal Investigator, PhD
CONTACT
603-646-2196
Tor.D.Wager@Dartmouth.edu

Study Locations (Sites)

Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: Trustees of Dartmouth College

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2023-09-09
Study Completion Date2026-09

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2023-09-09
Study Completion Date2026-09

Terms related to this study

Keywords Provided by Researchers

  • transcranial direct current stimulation
  • experimental pain
  • pain-related decision-making
  • social placebo effects

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • We Are Not Studying a Disease or Condition