120
Participants
Start Date
February 12, 2025
Primary Completion Date
January 1, 2028
Study Completion Date
January 1, 2030
Thermal stimuli
The Thermal Sensory Analyzer (TSA-II or PATHWAY platform - Medoc, Ramat Yishai, Israel) will be used to safely deliver heat and cold stimuli. These devices can deliver relatively complex stimuli via computer control. All targeted stimulus temperatures will be less than 50°C, and participants will be free to remove their arm or leg at any time from the thermode. Noxious cold stimuli will also be delivered with a plastic water container or a water bath (FISHER, USA). Participants will be free to pull out of the water bath at any time
Pressure stimuli
Pressure stimuli will be applied by using a handheld algometer (Wagner Instruments) or the Pressure Algometer (Medoc, Ramat Yishai, Israel). These devices have a round probe that allows quantifying the amount of pressure that is being applied. The Pressure Algometer allows a real-time visual feedback to control and monitor applied pressure rates. Pressure will be applied to the lower leg, volar forearm, or trapezius.
Pain ratings
Pain intensity and pain unpleasantness ratings will be assessed.
Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) response
"The CPM paradigm assesses endogenous inhibitory pain modulation efficiency. CPM testing includes the application of a test stimulus without conditioning (control run, pressure pain thresholds) and a subsequent application of the same test stimulus together with a conditioning stimulus (conditioning run, a 60 second of foot immersion in cold water). The CPM response is the difference in the pressure pain thresholds between the control and the conditioning runs."
Hormonal assessment
Blood samples (approximately 2 tablespoons) and/or saliva and/or urine will be collected for analyses of sex hormone levels (e.g., prolactin, testosterone, estradiol).
RECRUITING
Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis
Washington University School of Medicine
OTHER