Randomization
pain
A research administrator, not involved in treatment/assessment, randomized, and assigned participants using a computerized open-access randomization software program without applying any restrictions (on a 1:1:1:1 basis) to either:Group-1: ISF-NF up-training pgACC, i.e., modulate the descending pain inhibitory pathwayGroup-2: ISF-NF down-training dACC + SSC, i.e., modulate the medial and lateral pathwayGroup-3: ISF-NF concurrently up-training pgACC and down-training dACC + SSC, i.e., Ratio [(2xpgACC)/(dACC + SSC)], i.e., normalize the balance between the descending inhibitory and ascending pain provoking pathwaysGroup-4: Placebo-NFThe randomisation schedule was concealed in sequentially numbered, sealed opaque envelopes and provided to participants at baseline.