NOICE vs. Nothing | Thermode: A Prospective, Randomized, Crossover Study
Stanford University
Summary
The purpose of this study is to test whether the non-visual immersive technologies, which uses spatial audio simulation, can help people better tolerate heat pain. As a proof-of-concept study, study team will use the NOICE device. This research is not studying the NOICE device specifically and the device is not a medical device.
Description
This study addresses the research gap in understanding how spatial audio impacts pain perception, specifically heat pain, in clinical settings. It is important to explore this because spatial audio may serve as a non-pharmaceutical, immersive alternative to traditional visual-based distraction methods like virtual reality. The investigators hypothesize that participants using the spatial audio simulation device will report an increased heat pain threshold compared to not using the device. This knowledge could improve information on the perception of pain for participant who prefer not to use…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 18 years and older * English-speaking * Intact hearing * No self-reported or clinically diagnosed acute or chronic medical conditions that affect safe participation Exclusion Criteria: * Use chronotropic heart medications * Use pain medications * Current hearing loss * Currently taking beta blockers, or opioids or other prescription pain medications * History of chronic pain or acute pain syndromes * Current hearing loss
Interventions
- BehavioralSpatial audio stimulation
Study RA will affix the thermode to the dorsum of the participant's dominant or non-dominant hand. Participants will undergo heat-pain-inducing thermode exposure. The intervention will be randomized to receive spatial audio stimulation or not for the first HPT trial, then crossed over to the other study condition for the second HPT trial. Participants will be randomized to expose their dominant or non-dominant hand first. Between each levels test, the thermode will be moved to the other hand (ex: VR: DH, NDH, DH; Nothing: NDH, DH, NDH). There will be a 30 second break between each levels test and a five-minute washout period between each intervention.
- BehavioralNo spatial audio stimulation
Study RA will affix the thermode to the dorsum of the participant's dominant or non-dominant hand. Participants will undergo heat-pain-inducing thermode exposure. The intervention will be randomized to receive spatial audio stimulation or not for the first HPT trial, then crossed over to the other study condition for the second HPT trial. Participants will be randomized to expose their dominant or non-dominant hand first. Between each levels test, the thermode will be moved to the other hand (ex: VR: DH, NDH, DH; Nothing: NDH, DH, NDH). There will be a 30 second break between each levels test and a five-minute washout period between each intervention.
Location
- Lucile Packard Children's Hospital StanfordPalo Alto, California