High Arousing Positive EmotionDDEALAPPTNCT07802444
Do Different Arousal Levels Affect Pressure Pain Thresholds?
A study testing Emotional high arousing intervention and Low arousal intervention in people with High Arousing Positive Emotion and Low Arousing Positive Condition, run by Linnaeus University.
Trial summary
This study examines whether emotional arousal level alone, while maintaining positive emotional valence, can influence pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in healthy adults. Pain perception is closely linked to emotional processes, and prior research indicates that emotional valence affects PPTs. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- High Arousing Positive Emotion, Low Arousing Positive Condition
- What is being tested?
- Emotional high arousing intervention and Low arousal intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2026to 31 May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Above 18 years of age, fluent in Swedish.
Who cannot join
- Pain anywhere in body during the test session, known neurological disease.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Do Different Emotional Arousal Levels Affect Pressure Pain Thresholds?
This study examines whether emotional arousal level alone, while maintaining positive emotional valence, can influence pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in healthy adults. Pain perception is closely linked to emotional processes, and prior research indicates that emotional valence affects PPTs. However, the specific role of arousal level remains unclear. The study aims to isolate arousal by comparing high arousal positive emotion (humor) with low arousal positive emotion (pleasant video), and a no emotion control condition.
A total of 120 healthy participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) humor induction (high valence, moderate-high arousal), (2) pleasant emotion induction (high valence, low arousal), or (3) mind wandering control. All participants will first view a neutral baseline video to standardize mood. PPTs will be measured bilaterally at the m. trapezius and m. tibialis anterior using a Somedic algometer (1 cm² probe, 30 kPa/s application rate). Three consecutive PPT measurements per site will be averaged. After the emotional induction (2:30 minutes), PPTs will be reassessed at all four sites.
Read more
Emotional responses will be validated using the Self Assessment Manikin (SAM) scale to measure valence and arousal. The humor video has been validated in earlier studies, whereas the pleasant low arousal video will be validated in a pre study. Inclusion criteria are age ≥18 and fluency in Swedish; exclusion criteria include pain during testing and known neurological disease.
The primary objective is to determine whether high arousal with positive valence increases PPTs (hypoalgesia) and whether low arousal with positive valence decreases PPTs (sensitization).
Statistical analyses include repeated measures t tests (Bonferroni corrected) and mixed model ANOVA. Nonparametric tests will be used if PPT distributions deviate from normality.
- Being tested
- Emotional high arousing intervention, Low arousal intervention
- Keywords
- Emotion, Pressure Pain Thresholds
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Emotional high arousing interventionBehavioural
The high arousing video will be presented for 2.30 minutes.
Low arousal interventionBehavioural
A low arousing positive video will be presented for 2.30 min.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| High arousal positive intervention | Experimental | A high arousing video with positive content (humor) will be presented. Receives: Behavioral: Emotional high arousing intervention |
| Low arousal positive intervention | Experimental | A low arousing video with positive content will be presented. Receives: Behavioral: Low arousal intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pressure Pain Thresholds will be tested in m. trapezius and m. tibialis anterior using a hand-held algometer.
Pressure Pain Thresholds will be tested in m. trapezius and m. tibialis anterior bilaterally using a hand-held algometer.
Measured: A baseline video is presented and immediately after PPT measurements are conducted. After that the intervention video is presented and immediately after PPT measurements are conducted.
Pressure Pain Thresholds
PPTs
Measured: From experiencing the video and two minutes after
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Sep 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 May 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for High Arousing Positive EmotionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Linnaeus University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Helena Gunnarsson, Linnaeus University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07802444
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025-08788-01
- Other IDs
- Värkstadsstiftelsen, 2025
- Acronym
- DDEALAPPT
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 3 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: We will share anonymous data in an open science platform after the finished data collection.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Do Different Emotional Arousal Levels Affect Pressure Pain Thresholds?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07802444
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DDEALAPPT / 2025-08788-01
- Keywords
- Emotion, Pressure Pain Thresholds
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Linnaeus UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 3 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study examines whether emotional arousal level alone, while maintaining positive emotional valence, can influence pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in healthy adults. Pain perception is closely linked to emotional processes, and prior research indicates that emotional valence affects PPTs. However, the specific role of arousal level remains unclear. The study aims to isolate arousal by comparing high arousal positive emotion (humor) with low arousal positive emotion (pleasant video), and a no emotion control condition.
A total of 120 healthy participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) humor induction (high valence, moderate-high arousal), (2) pleasant emotion induction (high valence, low arousal), or (3) mind wandering control. All participants will first view a neutral baseline video to standardize mood. PPTs will be measured bilaterally at the m. trapezius and m. tibialis anterior using a Somedic algometer (1 cm² probe, 30 kPa/s application rate). Three consecutive PPT measurements per site will be averaged. After the emotional induction (2:30 minutes), PPTs will be reassessed at all four sites.
Emotional responses will be validated using the Self Assessment Manikin (SAM) scale to measure valence and arousal. The humor video has been validated in earlier studies, whereas the pleasant low arousal video will be validated in a pre study. Inclusion criteria are age ≥18 and fluency in Swedish; exclusion criteria include pain during testing and known neurological disease.
The primary objective is to determine whether high arousal with positive valence increases PPTs (hypoalgesia) and whether low arousal with positive valence decreases PPTs (sensitization).
Statistical analyses include repeated measures t tests (Bonferroni corrected) and mixed model ANOVA. Nonparametric tests will be used if PPT distributions deviate from normality.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| High arousal positive intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Emotional high arousing interventionA high arousing video with positive content (humor) will be presented. |
| Low arousal positive intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Low arousal interventionA low arousing video with positive content will be presented. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Above 18 years of age, fluent in Swedish.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Pain anywhere in body during the test session, known neurological disease.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional high arousing interventionThe high arousing video will be presented for 2.30 minutes. | Behavioural | High arousal positive intervention |
| Low arousal interventionA low arousing positive video will be presented for 2.30 min. | Behavioural | Low arousal positive intervention |
Primary outcome
Pressure Pain Thresholds will be tested in m. trapezius and m. tibialis anterior using a hand-held algometer.
Time frame: A baseline video is presented and immediately after PPT measurements are conducted. After that the intervention video is presented and immediately after PPT measurements are conducted.
Pressure Pain Thresholds will be tested in m. trapezius and m. tibialis anterior bilaterally using a hand-held algometer.
Pressure Pain Thresholds
Time frame: From experiencing the video and two minutes after
PPTs
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. We will share anonymous data in an open science platform after the finished data collection.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Emotional high arousing intervention and Low arousal intervention in people with High Arousing Positive Emotion and Low Arousing Positive Condition, run by Linnaeus University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Helena Gunnarsson, PhD (+46708432509, helena.gunnarsson@lnu.se), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pressure Pain Thresholds will be tested in m. trapezius and m. tibialis anterior using a hand-held algometer. (time frame: A baseline video is presented and immediately after PPT measurements are conducted. After that the intervention video is presented and immediately after PPT measurements are conducted.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Sep 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 28 Oct 2026.