How do Alpha Oscillations Shape the Perception of Pain? - An EEG-based Neurofeedback Study

Summary

Pain is closely linked to alpha oscillations (8 -13 Hz) which are thought to represent a supra-modal, top-down mediated gating mechanism that shapes sensory processing. Consequently, alpha oscillations might also shape the cerebral processing of nociceptive input and eventually the perception of pain. To test this mechanistic hypothesis, the investigators designed a sham-controlled and double-blind electroencephalography (EEG)-based neurofeedback study. In a short-term neurofeedback training protocol, healthy participants will learn to up- and downregulate somatosensory alpha oscillations using attention. Subsequently, the investigators will investigate how this manipulation impacts experimental pain applied during neurofeedback. Using Bayesian statistics and mediation analysis, the investigators will test whether alpha oscillations mediate attention effects on pain perception. This approach promises causal insights into the role of alpha oscillations in shaping pain, and thereby extends previous correlative evidence. Beyond, it can aid the development of novel, non-invasive modulatory treatment approaches for chronic pain, which are urgently needed.

The prosed study protocol has been granted in-principle acceptance from PLOS Biology and the corresponding registration can be found at the OSF online repository \[www.osf.io/qbkj2\].

Conditions

• Experimental Pain in Healthy Human Subjects

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

attention right training, ARTNF

In a first verum neurofeedback condition, participants will be instructed to focus attention on their right hand and the up-regulation of alpha oscillations in the right hemisphere relative to alpha oscillations in the left hemisphere will be incentivized through neurofeedback.

BEHAVIORAL

attention left training, ALTNF

In a second verum neurofeedback condition, participants will be instructed to focus attention on their left hand and the down-regulation of right relative to left alpha oscillations will be incentivized.

BEHAVIORAL

sham attention right training, ARTsham

During the first sham neurofeedback condition, participants will be instructed to focus attention on their right hand. However, the feedback signal will not mirror their brain activity. Instead, the feedback signal and the corresponding reward of the last matching verum condition completed by a previous participant, i.e., ARTNF for ARTsham, will be replayed (yoked feedback).

BEHAVIORAL

sham attention left training, ALTsham

During the second sham neurofeedback condition, participants will be instructed to focus attention on their left hand. However, the feedback signal will not mirror their brain activity. Instead, the feedback signal and the corresponding reward of the last matching verum condition completed by a previous participant, i.e., ALTNF for ALTsham, will be replayed (yoked feedback).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• German Research Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Technical University of Munich

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Markus Ploner, Prof. Dr. med. · Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-10-01

Primary Completion

2023-12-31

Completion

2023-12-31

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations