Actively Recruiting
Functional Neuroimaging to Detect the Neural Signatures of the Unpleasantness of Pain and Effort
Led by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · Updated on 2026-05-13
47
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
481 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
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
Official Title
Functional Neuroimaging to Detect the Neural Signatures of the Unpleasantness of Pain and Effort
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Ability to understand and willingness to sign informed consent
- Willingness to comply with study procedures and be available for the study duration
- Male or female aged 18 to 50 years inclusive
- Good general health for healthy volunteers
- Diagnosis of ME/CFS meeting at least one established criteria for ME/CFS patients
You will not qualify if you...
- Current major neurological or psychiatric disorders other than ME/CFS
- Other major medical disorders that increase risk or affect study participation
- Use of medications acting on the central nervous system or psychomotor stimulants
- Opioid use over two weeks in the last two years or any use in the last month
- Current or history of substance use disorder, binge drinking, illegal drug use, or excessive tobacco use
- More than occasional cannabis use or any illicit drug use or misuse of prescription drugs
- Conditions affecting grip or extremities that alter sensitivity to painful thermal stimuli
- Contraindications to MRI including metal implants, pacemakers, claustrophobia, pregnancy or plans to become pregnant
- Membership in NINDS BNU or their family members
- Non-English speakers due to lack of validated study instrument translations
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
N
Nicholas J Madian, Ph.D.
CONTACT
E
Eric M Wassermann, M.D.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
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