Meaning in Music-Based Pain Modulation

NCT07036315 | Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: HSR 230193U24AT012601
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The overall goal of this project is to examine the impact of music's meaning on pain. Relationships between trait affect, meaning in life, and subjective qualities of meaningful music will be assessed. We will also conduct interviews with a subset of participants to determine which aspects of music are most meaningful and how this meaning increases or decreases pain sensations.

Conditions

The Focus of the Study is Healthy Volunteers

Keywords

Music; Pain; Meaning

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain Unpleasantness

  Participants will be asked to report pain unpleasantness on a 1 - 100 visual analogue scale ranging from 0 (no sensation) to 100 (intolerable pain)

  Baseline/Pre-intervention and During the Intervention

• Pain Intensity

  Participants will be asked to report pain intensity on a 1 - 100 visual analogue scale ranging from 0 (no sensation) to 100 (intolerable pain)

  Baseline/Pre-intervention and During the Intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• The Multidimensional Meaning in Life Scale

  Baseline/Pre-intervention

• The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-X (PANAS-X)

  Baseline/Pre-Intervention

• The Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities Scale

  Baseline/Pre-intervention

• The Geneva Emotional Music Scale

  During the Intervention

• Optional Micro-Phenomenological Interview

  Immediately After the Intervention

Study Arms (1)

Pain-Modulation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will be exposed to different music clips.

Other: Music intervention

Interventions

Music intervention OTHER

Participants will be asked to select different music clips based on meaning, enjoyment and preference.

Pain-Modulation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years old
• Absence of acute or chronic pain
• Normal hearing (either naturally or with assistance of hearing device)
• Must be able to wear an EEG
• Able to sign consent

You may not qualify if:

• \< 18 or \> 65 years old
• Presence of acute pain (brief pain inventory score \> 3)
• Pregnant women
• Participant reports that they experience pain on more days than not in the past 6 months (i.e., chronic

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Virginia: lead
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Claudia Denoue, MD

CONTACT

4342436744; TTC8WZ@uvahealth.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 13, 2025
• First Posted: June 25, 2025
• Study Start: October 25, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 15, 2026
• Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)