Understanding how anesthesia and pain relief work in the brain

Neuroimaging to identify the neural correlates of anesthetic and analgesic action in humans

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10903973

This study is looking at how different pain relief and anesthesia medications affect your memory and how you feel pain, so if you're having a procedure that requires these treatments, your experience can be better understood and improved.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-10903973 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how different anesthetic and analgesic agents affect memory and pain perception in humans. By using advanced imaging techniques like high-field MRI, the study aims to identify the brain regions involved when these medications are administered during painful procedures. Participants will engage in cognitive tasks while experiencing controlled pain, allowing researchers to gather comprehensive data on how these drugs interact with brain functions. The goal is to fill the knowledge gap in anesthesiology to improve pain management and anesthesia effectiveness.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who may require anesthesia or analgesia during medical procedures.

Not a fit: Patients who do not require anesthesia or analgesia, or those under 21 years old, may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective pain management strategies and improved anesthesia techniques for patients undergoing medical procedures.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the neural mechanisms of anesthesia, but this approach combines multiple advanced techniques, making it a novel investigation.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.