RecruitingPhase 2NCT06568198

Modulation Effect of tACS on Chronic Low Back Pain

Modulation Effect of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on Chronic Low Back Pain

Sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Enrollment

80 participants

Start Date

Aug 25, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Investigating the modulation effect of tACS

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 60 Years

Volunteers 18-60 years of age
Meet the Classification Criteria of the chronic LBP (having low back pain for more than 6 months)
At least 4/10 clinical pain on the 0-10 LBP NRS
At least a 10th grade English-reading level; English can be a second language provided that the patients understand all questions used in the assessment measures
Meeting the MRI / MEG / EEG screening criteria

Specific causes of back pain (eg, cancer, fractures, spinal stenosis, infections)
Complicated back problems (eg, prior back surgery, medicolegal issues)
The intent to undergo surgery during the time of involvement in the study
History of cardiac, respiratory, or nervous system disease that, in the investigator's judgment, precludes participation in the study because of a heightened potential for adverse outcome (for example: asthma or claustrophobia)
Presence of any contraindications to MRI scanning (for example: cardiac pacemaker, metal implants, claustrophobia, pregnancy, cannot lie still in fMRI scanner)
Concomitant autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory, neoplastic, and psychiatric diseases
Pregnant or lactating
Conditions making study participation difficult (e.g., paralysis, psychoses, or other severe psychological problems as per the judgment of a study investigator during Session 1)
Active substance abuse disorders (based on subject self-report and drug test)
Regular use of pain medication such as opioids, nonopioid analgesics, coanalgesics, corticosteroids, or immunomodulatory agents
Any medical conditions, such as peripheral neuropathy, that could affect the results of QST
Current use of psychotropic medication