Actively Recruiting
Neural Mechanisms of Light Driven Analgesia
Led by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Updated on 2026-05-13
60
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
205 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this study will be to understand the biological mechanisms that are responsible to light-driven analgesia. Light presented to the retina has been shown to have pain relieving properties in pre-clinical and clinical studies. In this study the investigators will evaluate the functional connectivity between subcortical visual areas and non-image forming brain areas that are involved in pain sensation. The investigators will also evaluate how three colored light stimuli presented to the retina results in changes in whole brain evoked activation patterns in participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain and in healthy controls. The investigators will also assess while brain evoked activation patterns in response to a pressure pain stimulus in the presence of three light stimuli in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain and healthy controls.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Neural Mechanisms of Light Driven Analgesia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults 18 years of age or older
- No planned changes to medication or treatment for the next 3 months
- Willing and able to undergo an MRI scan
- Not claustrophobic
- Alert, oriented, and able to provide informed consent
- Able to speak and read English
- For participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain (cMSP):
- Score of 7 or higher on the Widespread Pain Index and 5 or higher on the Symptom Severity Scale, or 4-6 on WPI and 9 or higher on SSS according to 2016 Fibromyalgia Questionnaire
- Pain present for 3 months or longer
- Pain in 4 out of 5 body regions
- Average pain severity of 4 or higher on a 0-10 scale over the month before enrollment
- Additional participants with diagnosed congenital stationary night blindness may be included
You will not qualify if you...
- Presence of retinal vision disorders or conditions causing vision impairment
- Reported photosensitivity, photophobia, or light aversion (e.g., autoimmune diseases like lupus)
- Conditions such as uveitis, cataracts, color-blindness, or a history of seizures
- Plans for analgesic treatment changes in the next 3 months (surgery, medication changes, injections, pain procedures)
- Prisoner status
- Pregnancy
- Contraindications to MRI, including implanted ferromagnetic materials, non-MRI compatible medical devices, or claustrophobia
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Matthew Mauck, MD, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
OTHER
Number of Arms
1
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