Effects of Natural Sounds on Attention Restoration in Virtual Reality

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Heart Rate Variability; Cognitive Fatigue; Mental Fatigue; Behavioral Performance; Working Memory
• Interventions: Other: No masking sound; Other: Masking Sound

• Registration Number: NCT05679869
• Lead Sponsor: Nanyang Technological University

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine whether listening to natural sounds in a noisy virtual reality environment compared to no natural sounds influences physiological markers.

Detailed Description

The investigators hypothesize that listening to natural sounds has restorative effects on attention by supporting greater use of involuntary attention. This generates the prediction that exposure to natural sounds in the context of a noisy environment will have greater restorative effects on attention (i.e., physiological) as compared to the control group (exposed to noise only). Individual differences (i.e., age, gender, caffeine and food intake, body mass index, skin temperature, noise sensitivity, sleep quality, baseline physiology and behavioural performance) will be examined and accounted for.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-09-05
• Study Start: 2022-12-06
• Status Verified: 2023-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-01-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-01-10
• Study First Posted: 2023-01-11
• Last Update Posted: 2023-01-11
• Primary Completion: 2023-03-15
• Study Completion: 2023-05-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Singapore-based
• Non-clinical
• 18-35years

Exclusion Criteria

• Individuals with hearing difficulties or failing to meet the minimal threshold for normal hearing
• Individuals with a history of ear, developmental, neurological, or psychiatric disorder

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
VR Simulated Outdoor Environment	No masking sound	Exposure to recorded outdoor environmental sounds
VR Simulated Outdoor Environment with Masking Sounds	Masking Sound	Exposure to recorded outdoor environmental sounds augmented with masking sounds

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Heart Rate Variability	1 day (during fatiguing task and sound intervention)	Electrocardiograph (Change)
Change in Fatigue State Questionnaire	baseline, up to 2 mins after fatiguing task and up to 2 mins after sound intervention	Change in Fatigue State Questionnaire Score

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Cultural Science Innovations, Nanyang Technological University; 🇸🇬 Singapore, Singapore