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Effects of Natural Sounds on Attention Restoration in Noisy Environment (EARS)

Primary Purpose

Cognitive Fatigue, Mental Fatigue, Heart Rate Variability

Status
Recruiting
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
Singapore
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Baseline
Fatigue Manipulation
Traffic Sound
Traffic and Masking Sound
Silence
Sponsored by
Nanyang Technological University
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Cognitive Fatigue

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 35 Years (Adult)All SexesAccepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Sites / Locations

  • Cultural Science Innovations, Nanyang Technological UniversityRecruiting

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm 3

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Experimental

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Traffic Sound

Traffic and Masking Sounds

Silence

Arm Description

600 seconds of traffic sound

600 seconds of traffic and masking sound

600 seconds of no sound

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Reverse Corsi Task (Change)
Change in Span
Reverse Corsi Task (Change)
Change in Reaction Time
Go/NoGo Task (Change)
Change in Accuracy
Go/NoGo Task (Change)
Change in Reaction Time
Electrocardiograph (Change)
Change in Heart Rate Variability
Electrodermal Activity (Change)
Change in Skin Conductance Level
Electrodermal Activity (Change)
Change in Skin Conductance Response
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form (Change)
Change in Positive Affect Score
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form (Change)
Change in Negative Affect Score
Fatigue State Questionnaire (Change)
Change in Fatigue State Questionnaire Score

Secondary Outcome Measures

Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale
Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale Score

Full Information

First Posted
August 10, 2021
Last Updated
March 21, 2023
Sponsor
Nanyang Technological University
Collaborators
National Research Foundation, Singapore, Ministry of National Development, Singapore, Housing and Development Board, Singapore
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT05009784
Brief Title
Effects of Natural Sounds on Attention Restoration in Noisy Environment
Acronym
EARS
Official Title
Effects of Natural Sounds on Attention Restoration in Noisy Environment
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
March 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Recruiting
Study Start Date
August 25, 2021 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
May 15, 2023 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
June 15, 2023 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Nanyang Technological University
Collaborators
National Research Foundation, Singapore, Ministry of National Development, Singapore, Housing and Development Board, Singapore

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
This study aims to examine whether listening to natural sounds in a noisy (traffic) environment compared to traffic noise only impacts behavioural, cognitive, affective, and physiological markers associated with attention restoration. Attention restoration will be examined as an aspect of cognitive fatigue.
Detailed Description
Based on the Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan, 1995), we 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, affect, cognition, and behaviour) 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. A cognitive task will be administered at the beginning of the experiment to induce fatigue to examine the restorative effects of natural sounds.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Cognitive Fatigue, Mental Fatigue, Heart Rate Variability, Skin Conductance, Behavioral Performance, Positive and Negative Affect, Inhibition, Working Memory, Perceived Restoration

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
Participant
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
162 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Traffic Sound
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
600 seconds of traffic sound
Arm Title
Traffic and Masking Sounds
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
600 seconds of traffic and masking sound
Arm Title
Silence
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
600 seconds of no sound
Intervention Type
Other
Intervention Name(s)
Baseline
Intervention Description
5-min urban park video clip (Presented on a TV)
Intervention Type
Other
Intervention Name(s)
Fatigue Manipulation
Intervention Description
20-min 2-back task (Presented on a computer)
Intervention Type
Other
Intervention Name(s)
Traffic Sound
Intervention Description
Active Comparator: Traffic Sound (Played through speakers)
Intervention Type
Other
Intervention Name(s)
Traffic and Masking Sound
Intervention Description
Experimental: Traffic and Masking Sound (Played through speakers)
Intervention Type
Other
Intervention Name(s)
Silence
Intervention Description
No Intervention: No sound (Played through speakers)
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Reverse Corsi Task (Change)
Description
Change in Span
Time Frame
up to 1 hour before and after sound intervention
Title
Reverse Corsi Task (Change)
Description
Change in Reaction Time
Time Frame
up to 1 hour before and after sound intervention
Title
Go/NoGo Task (Change)
Description
Change in Accuracy
Time Frame
up to 1 hour before and after sound intervention
Title
Go/NoGo Task (Change)
Description
Change in Reaction Time
Time Frame
up to 1 hour before and after sound Intervention
Title
Electrocardiograph (Change)
Description
Change in Heart Rate Variability
Time Frame
up to 1 hour before and after sound intervention
Title
Electrodermal Activity (Change)
Description
Change in Skin Conductance Level
Time Frame
up to 1 hour before and after sound intervention
Title
Electrodermal Activity (Change)
Description
Change in Skin Conductance Response
Time Frame
up to 1 hour before and after sound intervention
Title
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form (Change)
Description
Change in Positive Affect Score
Time Frame
up to 1 hour before and after sound intervention
Title
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form (Change)
Description
Change in Negative Affect Score
Time Frame
up to 1 hour before and after sound intervention
Title
Fatigue State Questionnaire (Change)
Description
Change in Fatigue State Questionnaire Score
Time Frame
up to 1 hour before and after sound intervention
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale
Description
Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale Score
Time Frame
up to 1 hour after sound Intervention

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Gender Based
Yes
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
35 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
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
Central Contact Person:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Kar Fye Alvin Lee, PhD
Phone
+6591557981
Email
alvin.lee@ntu.edu.sg
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
GEORGIOS CHRISTOPOULOS, PhD
Phone
+6594898379
Email
georchris7@gmail.com
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Cultural Science Innovations, Nanyang Technological University
City
Singapore
ZIP/Postal Code
639798
Country
Singapore
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Elliot Chan, B.A.
Phone
+6596799914
Email
elliotchan@ntu.edu.sg

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No
Citations:
PubMed Identifier
20617017
Citation
Alvarsson JJ, Wiens S, Nilsson ME. Stress recovery during exposure to nature sound and environmental noise. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2010 Mar;7(3):1036-46. doi: 10.3390/ijerph7031036. Epub 2010 Mar 11.
Results Reference
background
Citation
Kaplan S. The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. J. Environ. Psychol. 1995; 15(3): 169-182.
Results Reference
background

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Effects of Natural Sounds on Attention Restoration in Noisy Environment

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