The purpose of this research study is to test whether researchers can reliably measure the response pupils have when an acute painful stimulus is experienced. Changes in the size of the pupil of the eye can be an indicator of brain activity in a region of the brain that is important for feeling pain.
There is strong rationale to support a role for locus coeruleus (LC) responsivity to acute painful stimuli in regulating speed of recovery after surgery and for LC responsivity as a mechanistic link explaining the risks for slow recovery from weak Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM), catastrophizing cognitive style, and low enzyme activity catecholamine-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype. Preliminary data show feasibility to perform the proposed study. Primary Hypothesis: An observational study of pupil responses to noxious stimuli shows strong intra-individual reliability over 8 weeks. Key secondary hypotheses: Compared to individuals homozygous for val at the val158met site of the catecholamine-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, those homozygous for met will show smaller pupil responses to noxious stimuli and weaker CPM.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
80
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
RECRUITINGPercentage of change in pupil diameter
pupil diameter in response to 5 second presentation of noxious heat stimuli
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change from Baseline Verbal Pain Scores
Verbal pain scores will be obtained during stimulus presentation
Time frame: 8 weeks
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