Brain chemical may boost pain relief learned by observation
NCT ID NCT03446456
First seen Jul 09, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a nasal spray containing vasopressin, a brain chemical involved in social bonding, can enhance the ability to learn pain relief by watching another person. Healthy adults receive either vasopressin or a placebo spray, then watch a video of someone experiencing pain relief while their brain activity is scanned using fMRI. The goal is to understand how social observation triggers placebo analgesia and whether vasopressin amplifies this effect.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Arginine vasopressin (nasal spray)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could reveal how social cues and brain chemistry influence pain relief, potentially improving non-drug pain management strategies.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase study with only 56 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Vasopressin's role in pain learning is still uncertain.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Luana Colloca
RECRUITINGBaltimore, Maryland, 21201-1512, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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