Identification of a Pain Resilience Signal in the Brain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Detection of increased alpha activity in the prefrontal cortex secondary to increased pain tolerance when undergoing a cold pressor test
IRAS ID
218648
Contact name
Anthony Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Chronic pain is a major complaint for many patients. Unfortunately, pain impacts on a person’s physical and psychological well-being which leads to these people having a lower quality of life. To add to this, chronic pain is usually resistant to traditional drug-based therapies. Current research suggests that chronic pain may be identified as dysfunctional changes in brain activity that are reflected in electroencephalography - this involves using a “cap“ to measure electrical activity in the brain generated by nerves, and displays this as waves. Using this, previous researchers have identified specific patterns that are present when a person is experiencing pain. Recent research suggests that these specific signals are associated with people’s pain tolerances. Unfortunately, there remains little information regarding the understanding of how these pain specific signals change in different people.\nOnce understood, we may be able to use this new-found knowledge to use therapeutic approaches that can help change these specific signals to create new ways of managing chronic pain.\nThe purpose of this study is to see whether we can find a pain specific signal (detected by electroencephalography) that is associated with an individual’s tolerance to pain. \n \n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
17/NS/0017
Date of REC Opinion
6 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion