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Functional Neuroimaging to Detect the Neural Signatures of the Unpleasantness of Pain and Effort
NCT06472622 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Background: The way the brain processes rewards and punishments may play a role in some disorders of the nervous system. People with chronic overlapping pain conditions (such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome \[ME/CFS\]) may have heightened responses to unpleasant, punishing sensations. Some of these conditions may also cause heightened responses to effort; this is an unpleasant sensation felt during physical and mental exertion. Objective: To learn more about how the brain processes different unpleasant sensations. Eligibility: People aged 18 to 50 years with ME/CFS. Healthy volunteers are also needed. Design: Participants will have 3 visits in 1 to 5 weeks. Visit 1: Participants may have a neurologic exam. They will have a mock magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. They will lie on a bed in a wooden tube while they practice 2 tasks: Thermal pain rating: A device that creates mild to moderate heat will be placed on one leg. Physical effort rating: Participants will squeeze a plastic bar with different levels of force. Visit 2: Participants will have a real MRI scan. They will lie on a table that slides into a large tube. Visit 3: Participants will have another MRI scan. They will repeat the thermal pain and physical effort tasks while in the scanner. Sensors will be placed on 1 arm to measure how the muscles function as they squeeze the bar. Their heart rate will be tested: They will hold their finger against a camera lens for 1 minute. They will do 2 other tasks: 1 requires repeatedly pressing a key on a keyboard, and the other requires squeezing a bar.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DEVICE Thermal Pain Stimulation
- DEVICE Physical Effort Stimulation
Study Locations (1)
Maryland
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 47 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-04-09 |
| Est. Completion | 2034-06-30 |
| Phase | Early Phase 1 |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT06472622
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT06472622 describes a study currently listed as recruiting. It is categorized as Early Phase 1, 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 47 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which has 339 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 2 interventions — of which Thermal Pain Stimulation 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: NCT06472622 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 NCT06472622 about?
NCT06472622 is a clinical study titled "Functional Neuroimaging to Detect the Neural Signatures of the Unpleasantness of Pain and Effort". Background: The way the brain processes rewards and punishments may play a role in some disorders of the nervous system. People with chronic overlapping pain conditions (such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome \[ME/CFS\]) may have heightened responses to unpleasant, punishing sen...
What is the current status of trial NCT06472622?
This trial is currently recruiting. It is a Early Phase 1 study. The enrollment target is 47 participants. The study started on 2025-04-09. Estimated completion is 2034-06-30.
What conditions does trial NCT06472622 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT06472622?
The interventions under investigation include: Thermal Pain Stimulation (DEVICE), Physical Effort Stimulation (DEVICE). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT06472622?
This trial is sponsored by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which has 339 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT06472622 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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