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Acute Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation at Acupoints on Nociceptive Transmission: A Mechanism Study Using Pain-Related Evoked Potentials

NCT07267052 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 35

Last updated 2025-12-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) applied to acupoints can modulate pain transmission and cortical processing in healthy adult volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does TENS at Zhongzhu (SJ3) and Hegu (LI4) change pain-related evoked potentials (PREPs)?
* Does acupoint electrical stimulation alter nociceptive pathways reflected by PREP waveform modulation?

Researchers will compare PREPs recorded before and after TENS at the two acupoints to see if TENS produces measurable effects on cortical nociceptive responses.

Participants will receive low-frequency TENS applied to Zhongzhu (SJ3) and Hegu (LI4), and undergo PREP assessments before and after the intervention to measure cortical responses to standardized noxious stimuli.

Conditions

  • Pain Management

Interventions

DEVICE

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

TENS was applied to the acupoints Zhongzhu (SJ3) and Hegu (LI4) using surface electrodes. Low-frequency electrical currents were delivered at an intensity that was comfortable but perceptible, without causing muscle contraction. Each session lasted 20 minutes, during which participants remained seated and relaxed, and electrode placement and stimulation parameters were monitored for safety and consistency.

DEVICE

EEG machine

EEG signals were recorded using the Neuro-MEP4 system. The device captures cortical electrical activity with high temporal resolution and is suitable for measuring pain-related evoked potentials (PREPs). Standard electrode placement and recording protocols were followed, and signal quality was checked before each session to ensure reliable data collection.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • China Medical University Hospital

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
20 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-11-25
Primary Completion
2026-07-31
Completion
2026-07-31

Countries

  • Taiwan

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07267052 on ClinicalTrials.gov