Can zapping the brain ease fibromyalgia pain? new study investigates

NCT ID NCT04606095

First seen Nov 12, 2025 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 35 times

Summary

This study looks at how brain networks synchronize in people with fibromyalgia, a condition causing widespread pain. Researchers will compare brain activity in 150 participants (fibromyalgia patients and healthy volunteers) using EEG and fMRI scans. In a later phase, some patients will receive a week of mild electrical brain stimulation (HD-tDCS) to see if it changes pain-related brain signals.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • University of Michigan

    RECRUITING

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could point toward a new non-drug treatment for fibromyalgia pain by targeting specific brain activity patterns.

What could go wrong

This is an early-stage study focused on understanding brain signals, not yet proving a treatment works. The stimulation approach may not reduce pain in real-world settings.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

fibromyalgia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.