Noninvasive Neuromodulation Of The Subjective Value Network In Chronic Pain

NCT07798908 | Not Yet Recruiting Phase 1

• 2 other identifiers: 10002566002566-N
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 9
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Study Description: This is an outpatient pilot study of the feasibility and tolerability of transcranial magnetic stimulation, directed to the network of brain regions responsible for assigning value to events, in patients with chronic pain. The primary hypothesis is that this study intervention will be feasible and tolerated well. The secondary hypothesis is that such study intervention will reduce the severity of chronic pain. Objectives: Primary Objective: To establish the feasibility and tolerability of multi-day TMS in chronic pain patients. Secondary Objective: To obtain preliminary information on whether network-targeted TMS changes chronic pain ratings. Exploratory Objectives: To evaluate effects of study intervention on moment-to-moment pain and emotional experience, continuous actigraphy, HEAL Core Common Data Elements, and, when fMRI is feasible, resting state functional connectivity before and after study intervention blocks. Endpoints: Primary Endpoint: Completion of at least two consecutive study intervention blocks, including one real on-target stimulation block and one off-target control stimulation block. Secondary Endpoint: Mean change in self-rated pain on the McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form after real on-target study intervention blocks compared with off-target control blocks. Exploratory Endpoints: Mean changes in Ecological Momentary Assessment, actigraphy, HEAL Core Common Data Elements, and, when fMRI is feasible, resting state functional connectivity after real on-target stimulation blocks compared with off-target control blocks.

Conditions

Chronic Neurogenic Pain

Keywords

Chronic Pain; Reward system; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• To evaluate the tolerability and feasibility of transcranial magnetic stimulation in chronic pain patients.

  Successful completion of targeting MRI and a 3-day course of stimulation.

  36 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• To measure effects on pain, using an N-of-1 design and cross-sectional and continuous measures

  36 months

Study Arms (2)

Sequence A

OTHER

Real on-target \> off-target control \> off-target control \> real on-target

Device: Transcranial magnetic stimulation; Other: Sham

Sequence B

OTHER

Sequence B = off-target control \> real on-target \> real on-target \> off-target control.

Device: Transcranial magnetic stimulation; Other: Sham

Interventions

Sham OTHER

Off-target control stimulation intervention

Sequence A; Sequence B

Transcranial magnetic stimulation DEVICE

Delivered to parietal region with connectivity to medial orbitofrontal cortex, based on individual functional connectivity. Treatment blocks consist of three days of real or off-target (sham) stimulation.

Sequence A; Sequence B

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 100 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
• Participant must be willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study.
• Male and female patients of 18 years of age or older.
• Diagnosed with peripheral or central neuropathic pain of at least three months duration and phenotyped by the PRC under protocol 16-AT-0077, and on a stable pain medication regimen
• In stable health as determined by study personnel, and without acute medical or mental illness for the past six weeks

You may not qualify if:

• An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
• Concurrent epilepsy or history of seizure in the last year
• Inability to provide informed consent
• Ferromagnetic metal in the cranial cavity or eye, implanted neural stimulator, cochlear implant, or ocular foreign body
• Implanted electronics contraindicated for MRI or TMS, such as cardiac pacemaker or auto-defibrillator or pumps
• Non-removable body piercings
• Claustrophobia severe enough to preclude MRI
• Inability to lie supine for 1 hour
• Members of the NINDS BNU or NIHPRC
• Individuals with elevated risk and potential contraindications to MRI, as defined by the NIH NMR center guidelines.
• Known hearing loss, as assessed by asking the potential participant whether they have hearing loss
• Have difficulties with communication that make subjective pain assessment impossible or unreliable
• Have active medical or psychiatric health issues that create additional and substantial adverse risks related to study procedures
• Pregnant participants or participants planning to become pregnant during the study. At enrollment/baseline, pregnancy status will be assessed by asking participants capable of becoming pregnant whether they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study. Before each fMRI, participants capable of becoming pregnant must have a negative urine pregnancy test to continue with the fMRI.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Links

• NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain

Interventions

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; salicylhydroxamic acid

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Magnetic Field Therapy; Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Eric M Wassermann, M.D.

  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Alisa J Johnson

CONTACT

(240) 603-0537; alisa.johnson@nih.gov

Eric M Wassermann, M.D.

CONTACT

(301) 496-0151; wassermanne@nih.gov

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: DEVICE FEASIBILITY
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: NIH
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 1, 2026
• First Posted: September 2, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2030
• Last Updated: September 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09-24

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)