Several studies have demonstrated that direct currents delivered through the skin at the level of the low-thoracic spinal cord can influence spinal cord function. In human volunteers, anodal low-thoracic transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) alters spinal processing of nociceptive inputs. Whether cervical tsDCS is able to do the same is less well known. In this double-blinded, sham-controlled and cross-over trial, the investigators will compare the effects on the nociceptive processing of healthy volunteers of cervical and low-thoracic tsDCS.
The investigators will compare the effects on the nociceptive processing of healthy volunteers of cervical and low-thoracic tsDCS. This study will be a double-blinded, sham-controlled, cross-over trial. Each participant will undergo three experimental sessions (anodal cervical tsDCS and sham thoracic tsDCS vs. sham cervical tsDCS and anodal thoracic tsDCS vs. sham cervical tsDCS and sham thoracic tsDCS), separated by at least one week.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
24
Anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (a-tsDCS)
Anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (a-tsDCS)
Sham transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (s-tsDCS)
UCLouvain
Brussels, Belgium
RECRUITINGChange in contact-heat evoked potentials amplitude
N2 amplitude
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 6 months
Change in intensity of perception to contact-heat nociceptive stimuli
Numerical rating scale (0-100)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 6 months
Change in skin temperature
Temperature (°C)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 6 months
Change in cutaneous blood flow
LDF flow (PU)
Time frame: Throughout the entire study, approximately during 6 months
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