Examining how non-verbal vocalizations affect pain tolerance
Official title: The Effect of Exposure to Aversive Non-verbal Vocalizations on Pain Tolerance
Run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne · NCT04423874 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether listening to sounds like babies crying can change how much pain healthy adults can handle when their hand is in cold water.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 104 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Saint-Etienne) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 25, 2022 |
| Main results expected | May 2026 |
| Study ends | May 2026 |
| Registry record updated | July 1, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT04423874 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are healthy adults who are able to participate in the cold pressor test.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with chronic pain, cardiovascular issues, or neurological conditions may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates the impact of non-verbal vocalizations, such as babies' cries, on pain tolerance in healthy adults. Participants will undergo a cold pressor test, where they will submerge their hand in cold water while listening to various vocalizations. The goal is to understand how these sounds influence pain perception and tolerance. The findings could enhance our understanding of non-verbal communication and its biological functions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into how non-verbal communication affects pain management and tolerance.
How similar studies have gone: While the study explores a relatively novel approach, similar studies on vocalizations and pain perception have shown promising results.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participant in good health * Affiliated or entitled participant in a social security scheme * Participant who received informed information about the study and co-signed, with the investigator, a consent to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Chronic pain * High blood pressure or poor circulation * Cardiac or vascular disease, or a heart condition (including symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome) * Allergy or hypersensitivity to cold * Diabetes * Epilepsy * Pregnancy * Recent serious injury * Neurological or psychiatric condition known to affect pain tolerance (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, schizophrenia) * History of fainting or seizures * History of frostbite
Where it's running
-
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire SAINT-ETIENNE
Saint-Etienne, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Roland PEYRON, MD — Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne
- Study coordinator: Roland PEYRON, MD
- Email: roland.peyron@chu-st-etienne.fr
- Phone: (0)477127805
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.