Brain scans reveal how laughing gas blunts pain and memory

NCT ID NCT06702631

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Keith M Vogt Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study uses brain scans to understand how low doses of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) change the way the brain processes pain and forms memories. Sixty healthy volunteers will receive mild electric shocks while breathing nitrous oxide or normal air, and their brain activity will be compared. The goal is to map which brain regions are involved, not to test a treatment.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: nitrous oxide
What this could lead to: If successful, this study could reveal how nitrous oxide changes pain perception and memory formation in the brain, guiding future pain treatments.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small study in healthy volunteers, not patients. It measures brain activity, not real-world pain relief, so results may not apply to clinical settings.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Amnesia Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

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

AMNESIA ANESTHESIA PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

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