Effects of Acute Pain on Cognitive Performance in Young Adults

NCT ID: NCT05625776

Last Updated: 2023-12-11

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

23 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-03-22

Study Completion Date

2023-11-16

Brief Summary

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The effects of pain on cognitive performance have not been thoroughly investigated. Broadly, the purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of acute pain on performance of a variety of cognitive performance measures. The investigators hypothesize that acute pain impairs cognitive performance, particularly cognitive measures of working memory, attention, and processing speed.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Pain, Acute Cognition

Keywords

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acute pain cognition pain cognitive ability young adults

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Application of pain or attentional control or no stimulus cannot be masked from participants, nor from outcomes assessors.

Study Groups

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Pain Stimulus

Capsaicin combined with heat applied to intact skin

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

pain delivery with capsaicin and heat

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Experimental pain paradigm delivered (capsaicin cream combined with heat) that is short-term and painful but not harmful

Distractor Somatosensory Stimulus

Sensory transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) applied to intact skin

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

distractor delivery with sensory TENS

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Distractor stimulus delivered (sensory TENS electrical stimulation) that is short-term and attention-demanding but not painful

No Stimulus

Nothing applied to skin

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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pain delivery with capsaicin and heat

Experimental pain paradigm delivered (capsaicin cream combined with heat) that is short-term and painful but not harmful

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

distractor delivery with sensory TENS

Distractor stimulus delivered (sensory TENS electrical stimulation) that is short-term and attention-demanding but not painful

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. 18-35 years old
2. Self-identifying as generally medically healthy
3. Able to read, write and speak English
4. Able to provide informed consent
5. Willing to undergo the experimental pain or non-painful electrical stimulation, if selected

Exclusion Criteria

1. Resting HR \< 50 or \> 100 bpm
2. Resting BP \< 90/60 or \> 140/95 mmHg
3. Any history or current mental health condition, learning/developmental disability or cognitive impairment, including ADD/ADHD, severe anxiety, severe depression, autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, mild cognitive impairment, etc.
4. Score on the MoCA \<23
5. Score on the GAD-7 ≥ 10
6. Score on the PHQ-2 ≥ 2 and score on the PHQ-9 ≥ 10
7. Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis
8. Any implanted electronic medical devices (i.e., cardiac pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, spinal cord neurostimulators)
9. Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity or in the area targeted for the stimulus
10. History of serious concussion or head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for \> 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment, or \> 2 concussions over the lifespan
11. Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or \> 1 fall in the last 12 months
12. Taking 4 or more medications
13. Currently or regularly using any analgesic medications, over-the-counter remedies, or any other treatment for the purposes of pain relief (i.e., baby aspirin for heart health permitted, etc.)
14. Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body
15. Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers
16. Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus
17. Skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat
18. Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus
19. Prior participation in a locomotor learning study in this lab within the last 2 years
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

35 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Institute on Aging (NIA)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Delaware

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Susanne M Morton

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Susanne M Morton, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Delaware

Locations

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University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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R01AG071585

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

1786370-1.2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id