Traumatic Long-term Memory of Pain in Humans

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Validation of virtual environment and auditive stimulation with virtual reality glasses (Pilot phase): The goal of this phase is the development of the experimental protocol in virtual reality. Virtual environment will be checked and auditive stimulation will be graduated.

Electrical cutaneous stimulation and auditive stimulation (Principal Experimental phase): This phase is the principal step of the study: during moving in virtual environment, electrical stimulation on one hand and auditive stimulation will be applied. EEG, ECG and skin conductance will be measured during conditioning phase and extinction phase (day 1, 30 minutes each phase). Behavioral measures will be done throughout the 3 sessions (day 1, day 2 and day 30)

Electrical cutaneous stimulation and auditive stimulation (Secondary Experimental phase): This phase is the same of the Principal Experimental phase except for the EEG that will not be performed.

Study summary

Few studies have focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying pain memory in humans. Thus, this project aims to investigate the link between pain memorisation and memorisation of the associated context by addressing the issue of pain conditioning. The study is composed of two successive parts: one pilot then one experimental. The goal is to understand pain memorisation processes by analysing the parallel between pain memorisation and memorisation of a traumatic event. By using immersive virtual reality, investigators aim to show that contextual pain conditioning is associated with : 1- a specific neural networks; 2- a reactivation of vegetative and behavioural reactions related to pain as well as electro-physiological markers when re-exposure to the specific pain-conditioning-context; 3- an implicit hypermnesia of the pain-associated context and a struggle to extinguish conditioning; 4- a favoured elaboration of false memories of the contextual pain. The emitted hypothesis suggests that a cortical and behavioural mnemonic trace is created during encoding of pain in association with its context, and that the latter can reactivate although the pain itself has disappeared. This implicit cortical mnemonic trace, evoked by the simple pain-associated context, could explain the notion of pain print persisting at long-term in patients suffering from chronic pain.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Measurement of electrophysiological (EEG) changes during a pain conditioning set up and its extinction — day 1
  The EEG will be done throughout the conditioning phase and the extinction phase (30 minutes each)conducted during the first session of the experiment (Day 1)
• Measurement of vegetative (electrodermal, electrocardiac) changes during a pain conditioning set up and its extinction — day 1
  The cutaneous response and electro-cardiographic activity will be done throughout the conditioning phase and the extinction phase (30 minutes each)conducted during the first session of the experiment (Day 1)

Trial sites (1)

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