Massage: Neuroimaging and Correlates of Response - 1-week Study

This study will compare the effects (good or bad) of Swedish massage or light touch therapy on your brain activity, physical responses (like heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate), and mood and stress. This is a randomized research study. "Randomized" means that participants will be assigned to a study group by chance, like flipping a coin. Participants will be randomized into one of two study groups, and will have an equal chance of being placed in one of the groups: - A single session of Swedish massage therapy - A single session of Light touch therapy At the study visit, the study staff ask about life stressors, medical health, medicine use, and illicit substance use over the past week. The study uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as functional MRI (fMRI) to look at the structure and activation of the brain. Participants will undergo two brain scanning sessions, one immediately before and one immediately after the Swedish massage or light touch therapy. The scans will last approximately 45 minutes. During the brain scanning sessions, information on heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and breathing will also be collected.

NCT Number	NCT07190313
Lead Sponsor	University of Utah
Conditions	Healthy Participants
Enrollment	30 participants
Start Date	2024-04-24
Primary Completion	2026-02 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-03 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-09-24