Investigating Motor Cortex Processing for Pain Modulation

Investigating Motor Cortex Processing for Pain Modulation

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of different types of interventions (motor learning, somatosensory learning, observation task, mental imagery and tDCS) on the perception of pain and motor cortex excitability in healthy male subjects. This is an exploratory study of healthy subjects only.

There are 5 experiments:

Exp1: motor learning (3 groups, crossover) - motor leaning with and without visual feedback and a control group.

Exp2: sensory learning (4 groups, parallel) - sensory learning with and without feedback, an simple activation task and a control group.

Exp3: observational task (2 groups, parallel) - an motor observational task and a control group.

Exp4: mental imagery (2 groups, parallel) - a motor mental imagery and a control group.

Exp5: tDCS over the motor cortex (2 groups, crossover) - active and sham tDCS. Note that this study has never been completed.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Provide informed consent to participate in the study

2. 18 to 64 years old

3. No presence of rheumatologic disease as self reported

4. No clinically significant or unstable medical or psychiatric disorder as self reported

5. No history of alcohol or substance abuse within the last 6 months as self reported

6. No neuropsychiatric co-morbidity as self reported

7. No Contraindications to single pulse TMS (TMS will be used to measure cortical excitability)

   • history of seizures
   • unexplained loss of consciousness
   • metal in the head
   • frequent or severe headaches or neck pain
   • implanted brain medical devices

8. No Contraindications to tDCS

   • metal in the head
   • implanted brain medical devices