Pain Oscillations

Pain Oscillations

map-marker.pngRobarts Research Institute (RRI)

Pain affects people in many ways, and we are still learning why. This study investigates how listening to rhythmic sounds might change brain activity linked to pain. Participants will hear specific sound patterns while experiencing brief heat sensations, some of which may feel mildly to moderately painful, as we record brain activity using EEG and fMRI simultaneously. The goal is to learn how sound affects the brain’s response to pain and whether it could support natural pain relief in the future.

Adults 18 to 30 years old

Healthy volunteers

No History of Chronic Pain

Who can participate in this study?

Inclusion criteria:

  • No history of chronic pain
  • No current acute pain
  • No hyper / hyposensitivity to thermal stimuli, e.g., Raynaud's disease
  • Between 18 and 30 years of age
  • Able to understand and willing to comply with all study procedures and is available for the duration of the study
  • Provide a signed and dated informed consent form
  • Able to speak, read, and write English

 

Exclusion criteria:

  • Unable or refusal to provide written consent
  • Presence of any acute pain disorder
  • History or presence of any chronic pain disorder
  • History or presence of any other significant medical or psychiatric complaint
  • Use of opioids or illicit drugs in the past 3 months • Pregnant or lactating women (self-reported)
  • Excessive alcohol use (based on the CDC criteria: 8 standard drinks per week for females; 15 standard drinks per week for males
  • Current smoker or using nicotine replacements such as nicotine gum
  • Unable to undergo MRI due to MRI screening form failure
  • Anything that, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the subject at increased risk or preclude the subject’s full compliance with or completion of the study

What is involved?

Your participation would involve a single 3-4 hour session at Robarts Research Institute.

  1. On the day of the study, you will first complete questionnaires about your background, health, and pain experiences. We will then measure your pain sensitivity using a safe thermal stimulator that delivers brief warm or hot sensations, followed by preparing you for EEG recording. During the MRI scan (about 90 minutes), you will hear rhythmic sounds and feel mild to moderate heat pulses, rating their intensity as they occur while your brain activity is recorded by both EEG and MRI. Afterward, you can clean the EEG gel from your hair, and the researcher will wrap up the session and provide closing instructions.

Principal Investigator & Posting Dates

Principal Investigator: David Seminowicz
Study posted on: October 21st, 2025
Recruitment open until: October 20th, 2026

Who can I contact to learn more about this study?

For more information about this study please contact:

Yuan Yao: yyao349@uwo.ca

 

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