Plain-English translation of NCT04653064 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
Researchers are studying how placebo — the healing power of expectation and belief — affects the way your brain experiences pain. Using advanced brain imaging, they want to understand which brain regions activate when you receive a placebo cream and then experience heat on your skin. This knowledge could help doctors better treat pain in the future.
Pain and anxiety about pain are major problems that affect quality of life and how people respond to medical treatment. Scientists have made progress mapping which brain regions handle pain, but they don't fully understand how placebo effects work in the brain. This study aims to fill that gap so doctors can harness the power of expectation to improve pain management.
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You will come to the research facility and have a cream applied to one of eight body sites on your arm. Then you'll enter an MRI brain scanner while mild heat is applied to your skin, and researchers will measure your pain response and observe your brain activity. Some participants will receive a placebo cream (designed to reduce pain), while others will receive a control cream. The study involves careful screening beforehand to ensure you're a good fit, and the entire process is designed to be safe and manageable.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 14, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States