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Neural and Psychological Mechanisms of Pain Perception
NCT02446262 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Background: \- Painful stimuli cause changes in a network of brain regions called the "Pain Matrix." But most of these regions respond to many other stimuli, not just pain. Researchers want to understand how different factors influence pain. They want to test what happens when people expect different levels of pain and receive treatments that can modify pain. They want to see if these factors influence decisions about pain and how the body responds to it. They also want to compare pain with responses like taste and vision. Objectives: \- To better understand how pain and emotions are processed and influenced by psychological factors. Eligibility: \- Healthy volunteers ages 18-50. Design: * This study requires 1 to 2 clinic visits that last 1 to 3 hours. * Participants will be screened with medical history and physical exam. * Some participants will have one or more magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of their brain. For MRI, participants will lie on a table that slides in and out of a cylinder. The scanner makes loud knocking noises. They will get earplugs. * Participants heart activity will be recorded with electrocardiogram. Their pulse, sweating, and breathing will be monitored. * Some participants will take a taste test. Others may perform simple tasks. Others may receive pain in their arm, leg, or hand. The pain will come from heat or electric shocks. Others may judge pain using a topical pain-relieving cream. Some of these tests may be given during MRI. * Participants will fill out questionnaires. * The study will last 3 years.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- BEHAVIORAL Attention
- BEHAVIORAL Instructions
- BEHAVIORAL Thermal Pain
- BEHAVIORAL Placebo instructions
Study Locations (1)
Maryland
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 500 participants |
| Start Date | 2015-06-11 |
| Est. Completion | 2027-02-20 |
| Phase | NA |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT02446262
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT02446262 describes a study currently listed as recruiting. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 500 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), which has 55 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 3 conditions, with Pain appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 4 interventions — of which Attention is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT02446262 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Maryland. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT02446262 about?
NCT02446262 is a clinical study titled "Neural and Psychological Mechanisms of Pain Perception". Background: \- Painful stimuli cause changes in a network of brain regions called the "Pain Matrix." But most of these regions respond to many other stimuli, not just pain. Researchers want to understand how different factors influence pain. They want to test what happens when people expect differe...
What is the current status of trial NCT02446262?
This trial is currently recruiting. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 500 participants. The study started on 2015-06-11. Estimated completion is 2027-02-20.
What conditions does trial NCT02446262 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Pain, Healthy Volunteers, Normal Physiology. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT02446262?
The interventions under investigation include: Attention (BEHAVIORAL), Instructions (BEHAVIORAL), Thermal Pain (BEHAVIORAL), Placebo instructions (BEHAVIORAL). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT02446262?
This trial is sponsored by National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), which has 55 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT02446262 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Maryland. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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