Brain scans reveal how fear of movement changes pain response

NCT ID NCT07688525

First seen Jul 07, 2026 · Last updated Jul 08, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study investigates how a person's beliefs about pain, such as fear of movement (kinesiophobia), influence brain activity during pain. Healthy adults will have a capsaicin cream applied to their forearm to cause temporary, moderate pain while researchers measure brain signals using non-invasive magnetic stimulation. The goal is to see if people with higher fear of movement show different brain responses to pain, which could help explain why pain affects people differently.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Topical capsaicin cream (1%)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could help explain why people respond differently to pain and point toward personalized approaches for pain management.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers using temporary pain, so results may not apply to people with chronic pain or other conditions.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Kinesiophobia

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

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

  • Contact

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

Locations

  • Université de Sherbrooke - Campus de la santé

    Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5H3, Canada

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

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

    Contact

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