Effects of Acute Pain vs Context Change on Motor Learning Retention in Young Adults

NCT ID: NCT05626582

Last Updated: 2024-07-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 61 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-04-11
• Study Completion Date: 2024-05-31

Brief Summary

To date, the effects of pain on motor learning have not been thoroughly investigated. When examining potential effects on retention of motor learning, it is important to dissociate any effects of pain from effects of a context change. The purpose of this research is to determine whether any altered retention of motor learning associated with acute pain is a true affect of pain or an affect of context (or both).

Conditions

Pain, Acute; Motor Activity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Pain Stimulus - Learning Only

Capsaicin combined with heat applied to intact skin

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

pain delivery - learning only

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Experimental pain paradigm delivered (capsaicin cream combined with heat) that is short-term and painful but not harmful. Applied to skin just during the Day 1 learning period.

Pain Stimulus - Learning and Retention

Capsaicin combined with heat applied to intact skin

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

pain delivery - learning and retention

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Experimental pain paradigm delivered (capsaicin cream combined with heat) that is short-term and painful but not harmful. Applied to skin during the Day 1 learning period and again during the Day 2 retention period.

No Stimulus

Nothing applied to skin

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

pain delivery - learning only

Experimental pain paradigm delivered (capsaicin cream combined with heat) that is short-term and painful but not harmful. Applied to skin just during the Day 1 learning period.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

pain delivery - learning and retention

Experimental pain paradigm delivered (capsaicin cream combined with heat) that is short-term and painful but not harmful. Applied to skin during the Day 1 learning period and again during the Day 2 retention period.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

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

Exclusion Criteria

• Resting HR < 50 or > 100 bpm
• Resting BP < 90/60 or > 140/95 mmHg
• 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.
• Score on the MoCA <23
• Score on the GAD-7 ≥ 10
• Score on the PHQ-2 ≥ 2 and score on the PHQ-9 ≥ 10
• Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis
• Any implanted electronic medical devices (i.e., cardiac pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, spinal cord neurostimulators)
• Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity or in the area targeted for the stimulus
• 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
• Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or > 1 fall in the last 12 months
• Taking 4 or more medications
• 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.)
• Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body
• Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers
• Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus
• Skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat
• Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus
• 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

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Delaware

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Susanne M Morton

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Susanne M Morton, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Delaware

Locations

University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

R01AG071585

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

1786370-1.3

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id