Functional MRI of Nitrous Oxide Inhalation in Volunteer Subjects
Keith M Vogt
Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of acute pain on long-term memory and conditioned physiologic responses in the presence and absence of low dose nitrous oxide. Functional magnetic resonance imaging will be used to identify the neural correlates of these phenomena. The study will occur over 2 visits and involves no long-term follow up.
Description
This is a non-randomized, clinical trial study of healthy volunteer subjects, which will employ neuroimaging and behavioral measures to characterize the effects of inhalational nitrous oxide on pain processing and cognitive function. Sedative doses of nitrous oxide will be targeted, and steady-state end-tidal (expired) concentrations achieved, while subjects perform a pain and memory cognitive task. At both no-drug baseline and the targeted doses, task and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans will be acquired, and this data will be analyzed subsequently for task-rela…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–59 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * have none of the specific exclusion criteria * have a valid email address and valid phone number throughout the study * free from any non-MRI compatible implants Exclusion Criteria: * are pregnant or attempting to conceive * body mass index (BMI) \> 35 * significant memory impairment or hearing loss * sleep apnea * chronic pain or frequently taking pain medication (including tramadol) * any severe or poorly-controlled medical problem (hypertension, diabetes) * neurologic or psychiatric disease, including anxiety, and depression * severe cardiac disease * history of met…
Interventions
- DrugNitrous oxide
After a no-drug control period, subjects will inhale nitrous oxide, administered via a breathing circuit and face mask, until a steady-state target end-tidal expired concentration is reached. During the drug condition, subjects will receive low-dose nitrous oxide (% corresponding to Minimum Alveolar Concentration).
- DevicePeripheral Nerve Stimulation
Experimental acute pain stimulus will be delivered using a nerve stimulator. These painful shocks will be paired with a fixed number of the experimental cues, in a pattern that appears random to participants.
Location
- University of PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania