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Transforming the understanding
and treatment of mental illnesses.

Neural and Psychological Mechanisms of Pain Perception

Join a Research Study: Enrolling locally from the Washington, D.C. metro region

To contact the study team email (painstudies@nih.gov) or call 301-402-0438 [TTY: 711].

Find out if you are eligible by filling out this survey.

People feel different levels of pain. These differences are caused by social, cultural, and biological factors. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health are trying to better understand the different factors that impact pain and how people experience pain. They are also trying to learn more about how people respond to each other and judge others’ experiences.

You may qualify to participate in these research studies if you are between the ages of 18-60, and are medically healthy (no neurological, psychiatric, or pain conditions.) Research participation may include experiencing mild to moderate pain stimuli, brain imaging, questionnaires, measurements of breathing, heart rate, and other biologic functioning.

Participation may include activities at home, and/or 1-2 visits at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Compensation may be available for participation. Taxi service may be provided.

Find out if you are eligible by filling out this survey.

To contact the study team email (painstudies@nih.gov) or call 301-402-0438 [TTY: 711].

Study Identifiers

  • NIMH Protocol Number: 15-AT-0132
  • ClinicalTrials.gov Study Number: 02446262 
  • NIMH Protocol Number: 17-AT-0155
  • ClinicalTrials.gov Study Number: 03258580 

Investigator(s): Lauren Atlas, Ph.D.