An observational study in COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), sponsored by University of Deusto. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Spain. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-05.
Sponsored by University of Deusto · Observational
This quasi-experimental laboratory study aims to describe and compare the multidimensional experience of dyspnea at rest and during exertion in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy controls. The study integrates neurophysiological, somatosensory, and psychological assessments, including prefrontal cortex activity (fNIRS), quantitative sensory testing (QST), and immersive virtual reality (VR) scenarios.
Additionally, the study evaluates the modulation of dyspnea perception through expectation mechanisms and placebo intervention using high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC). The ultimate goal is to better understand the multidimensional and neurocognitive mechanisms underlying dyspnea.
Dyspnea is a complex and multidimensional symptom involving physiological, sensory, emotional, and cognitive components. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dyspnea is the most disabling symptom and is strongly associated with anxiety, reduced quality of life, and exercise intolerance. Current therapeutic approaches primarily target underlying physiological impairments; however, when these alterations are irreversible, central nervous system mechanisms become a relevant therapeutic target.
Emerging evidence suggests that dyspnea perception is modulated by higher cortical processes, particularly involving the prefrontal cortex, as well as by anticipatory mechanisms, emotional states, and prior experiences. Similar to pain, dyspnea is a subjective experience that can be influenced by cognitive and affective factors, including expectation and placebo effects. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these processes remain insufficiently understood.
This study aims to investigate dyspnea from a multidimensional and neuroscientific perspective by integrating physiological, neurophysiological, and psychological assessments. Specifically, the study evaluates prefrontal cortex activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), somatosensory profiles using quantitative sensory testing (QST), and sensorimotor responses during both rest and exertion.
Participants will undergo controlled dyspnea induction through inspiratory muscle loading, allowing standardized assessment of dyspnea perception. Additionally, the study incorporates immersive virtual reality (VR) scenarios designed to manipulate sensory input and expectations by dissociating visual and physical effort during cycling exercise. This approach enables the investigation of anticipatory neural mechanisms and their influence on dyspnea perception.
Furthermore, a placebo-controlled condition using high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) will be implemented to explore expectation-driven modulation of dyspnea. Participants will be exposed to no support, simulated (placebo) HFNC, and active HFNC conditions, allowing the evaluation of placebo effects on respiratory perception and associated neurophysiological responses.
The study includes two groups: patients with moderate-to-severe COPD and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. This comparative design allows identification of differences in neural activation, somatosensory processing, and psychological modulation of dyspnea between populations.
By combining neuroimaging, sensory testing, and immersive technologies, this study seeks to advance understanding of the multidimensional mechanisms underlying dyspnea and to identify potential targets for innovative, non-pharmacological interventions aimed at improving symptom management and quality of life in patients with COPD.
5,520 studies on the registry are indexed under Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; 856 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 80 is below the median of 158 across 1,497 observational studies indexed under Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive.
Browse Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive studies →University of Deusto is the lead sponsor of 20 studies on the registry; 7 are open to participants now.
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COPD patients. Participants diagnosed with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (GOLD stages 2-4) will undergo multidimensional assessment of dyspnea at rest and during exertion. The protocol includes induced dyspnea using inspiratory muscle loading, neurophysiological monitoring (fNIRS), somatosensory testing (QST), placebo intervention with high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), and immersive virtual reality scenarios.
Healthy subjects. Age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy participants without respiratory disease will undergo the same experimental protocol, including induced dyspnea, neurophysiological measurements, somatosensory testing, placebo HFNC condition, and immersive virtual reality exposure.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
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Healthy subjects:
Exclusion Criteria:
patients:
Heatlhy subjects:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
From a breathing test (spirometry): how much air you can blow out in the first second. Often given as a percentage of what is expected for your age, height and sex.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
FEV1
From a breathing test (spirometry): how much air you can blow out in the first second. Often given as a percentage of what is expected for your age, height and sex.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants diagnosed with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (GOLD stages 2-4) will undergo multidimensional assessment of dyspnea at rest and during exertion. The protocol includes induced dyspnea using inspiratory muscle loading, neurophysiological monitoring (fNIRS), somatosensory testing (QST), placebo intervention with high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), and immersive virtual reality scenarios.
Other: Induced Dyspnea via Inspiratory Muscle Loading · Other: Virtual Reality Sensory Immersion · Other: Placebo and Active Conditions
Age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy participants without respiratory disease will undergo the same experimental protocol, including induced dyspnea, neurophysiological measurements, somatosensory testing, placebo HFNC condition, and immersive virtual reality exposure.
Other: Induced Dyspnea via Inspiratory Muscle Loading · Other: Virtual Reality Sensory Immersion · Other: Placebo and Active Conditions
Dyspnea will be experimentally induced using an inspiratory muscle training device (PowerBreathe) set at 40% of maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax). Participants will perform repeated breathing efforts until reaching a dyspnea intensity of 4-6 on the modified Borg scale.
Participants will perform cycling exercise while immersed in a virtual reality environment simulating terrain with varying gradients. The visual slope will be experimentally dissociated from the actual resistance applied to the cycle ergometer to investigate expectation-driven modulation of dyspnea.
Also known as: DisVir
Participants will be exposed to three conditions: no support, placebo HFNC (simulated device without effective airflow), and active HFNC delivering room air at 30 L/min. The intervention aims to evaluate placebo effects and expectation-related modulation of dyspnea.
Also known as: Placebo Effects
Dyspnea intensity and respiratory effort
Participants will rate their perceived breathlessness during experimentally induced dyspnea at rest and during exertion across different experimental conditions (baseline, placebo, active support, and virtual reality scenarios). Measured using the modified modified Borg scale (0-10), where higher scores indicate greater dyspnea intensity.
Time frame: At baseline and immediately after reaching target dyspnea level (Borg scale ≥5)
Plan to share: No
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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive →
University of Deusto