The Warmth, Anticipation, Sensation, Aversion, and Body-part Imaging Study

Inclusion Criteria

• Subject must be a volunteer with a minimum age of 18 years and must be able and willing to provide written informed consent.
• If female, the subject must be non-lactating, not pregnant, and using a reliable contraception method.
• Subject must be able to read and speak English.
• Subject must be able to understand and follow the instructions of the investigator and understand all screening questionnaires.
• Subject must have no current or recent history of pathological pain.
• Subject must have abstained from alcohol and substance use for 48 hours.
• Subject must pass all fMRI screening tests.

Exclusion Criteria

• If female, pregnancy.
• Inability to tolerate the scanning procedures (e.g., claustrophobia).
• Metal in body or prior history working with metal fragments (e.g., as a machinist).
• Inability to tolerate heat pain applied to the forearm.
• Reporting temporary abnormal levels of pain.
• Allergic response to the exfoliating cream.
• Current presence of pain.
• Current or past history of psychoactive substance abuse or dependence.
• Dementias.
• Movement disorders except familial tremor.
• CNS infection.
• CNS vasculitis.
• Inflammatory disease or autoimmune disease.
• CNS demyelinating disease (e.g. multiple sclerosis).
• Space occupying lesions (mass lesions, tumors).
• Congenital CNS abnormality (e.g. cerebral palsy).
• Seizure disorder.
• History of closed head trauma with loss of consciousness.
• History of cerebrovascular disease (stroke, TIAs).
• Abnormal MRI (except changes accounted for by technical factors or UBOs.
• Neuroendocrine disorders (e.g., Cushings disease).
• Uncorrected hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
• Current or past history of cancer.
• Recent history (within two years) of myocardial infarction, severe cardiovascular disease, or currently active cardiovascular disease (e.g. angina, cardiomyopathy).
• Uncontrolled hypertension or hypotension.
• Chronic pain syndromes.
• Chronic fatigue syndromes.
• A history of neurologic disease or neuropathic pain.
• Prior treatment within the last month with any of the following: antidepressants, mood stabilizers, glucocorticoids, opiates.
• Prior treatment with any of the following: antipsychotics, isoniazid, centrally active antihypertensive drugs (e.g. clonidine, reserpine).
• Any other contraindications for MRI examination (e.g., metallic implants such as pacemakers, surgical aneurysm clips, or known metal fragments embedded in the body).
• Current treatment for psychiatric disorders including mood, anxiety, substance abuse, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), psychosis.
• Neurological disorders (e.g., taking dopamine agonists for Parkinson's) Cardiovascular disease or medication (e.g., taking ACE (angiotensin-converting-enzyme) inhibitors for cardiac remodeling).
• Frequent smoking (> 5 cigarettes / day).
• Frequent alcohol use (> 14 drinks / week).
• Frequent migraines (> 5 / month on average).