To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Auditory StimuliNCT07395830
Effects of a Multisensory VR Experience on Stress and User Experience
A study testing Relaxing aroma and state of stress/calm in people with To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Auditory Stimuli and To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Olfactory Stimuli, run by Universidad de Zaragoza.
Trial summary
This study explicitly tests a multisensory virtual reality experience that combines visual, auditory, and olfactory channels to modulate the stress response in young adults. In addition to visual and auditory stimulation, the study also assesses whether a relaxing olfactory stimulus attenuates this effect. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Auditory Stimuli, To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Olfactory Stimuli
- What is being tested?
- Relaxing aroma and state of stress/calm
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 10 Feb 2026to 1 May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- must meet the required age.
- must have corrected vision/hearing.
Who cannot join
- uncontrolled asthma.
- uncontrolled odor-triggered migraines.
- pregnancy state.
- nasal congestion.
- severe predisposition to dizziness in virtual reality.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Effects of a Multisensory VR Experience on Stress and User Experience: A Randomized Controlled Study
This study explicitly tests a multisensory virtual reality experience that combines visual, auditory, and olfactory channels to modulate the stress response in young adults. In addition to visual and auditory stimulation, the study also assesses whether a relaxing olfactory stimulus attenuates this effect. The environment and task remain constant (constant visuals); auditory and olfactory elements are varied. Objective. To evaluate the main effects of varying auditory and olfactory stimuli, as well as their interaction, on variables related to the performance of a quiz-type task in virtual reality.
- Conditions
- To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Auditory Stimuli, To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Olfactory Stimuli
- Being tested
- Relaxing aroma and state of stress/calm
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Relaxing aroma and state of stress/calmOther
A 2×2 randomized design is used. The Aroma condition is between subjects (relaxing aroma vs. no aroma) (experimental group and control group). The Mode condition is within each group and consists of two blocks: Stress and Calm. The order of the blocks is counterbalanced (Stress-Calm/Calm-Stress): half of the participants experience Stress first and then Calm, and the other half in the reverse order.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | Control Group |
| Experimental | Experimental | Experimental Group Receives: Other: Relaxing aroma and state of stress/calm |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
NASA Task Load Index
This test measures perceived mental workload. It has the following dimensions: Mental demand, effort, physical demand, performance, time constraints, and frustration level. Scoring interpretation:
Higher scores for mental demand, effort, physical demand, time constraints, and frustration level indicate a greater workload/demand.
Higher performance indicates a better experience. Reference: S. G. Hart y L. E. Staveland, "Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of Empirical and Theoretical Research", en Advances in Psychology, vol. 52, North-Holland, 1988, pp. 139-183. doi: 10.1016/S0166-4115(08)62386-9.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Short Stress State Questionnaire (SSSQ)
Test to measure stress levels. It has three dimensions: engagement, anxiety, and worry. Scoring interpretation:
- Higher score in anxiety/worry -> worse (more stress)
- Higher score in engagement -> better (more involvement/functional activation)
Reference: W. S. Helton y K. Näswall, "Short Stress State Questionnaire", Eur. J. Psychol. Assess., vol. 31, n.o 1, pp. 20-30, jun. 2015, doi: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000200.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Secondary outcomes (5)
IPQ - Igroup Presence Questionnaire
A test that measures overall presence in VR. Dimensions: Spatial presence, engagement, realism. Scoring logic: Higher scores indicate greater presence.
Reference: T. Schubert, F. Friedmann, and H. Regenbrecht, "The Experience of Presence: Factor Analytic Insights," Presence Teleoperators Virtual Environ., vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 266-281, June 2001, doi: 10.1162/105474601300343603.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
VRSQ - Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire
It measures Cybersickness / motion sickness symptoms. Dimensions: General malaise, vestibular symptoms. Scoring logic: Higher scores indicate greater malaise.
Reference: H. K. Kim, J. Park, Y. Choi, and M. Choe, "Virtual reality sickness questionnaire (VRSQ): Motion sickness measurement index in a virtual reality environment," Appl. Ergon., vol. 69, pp. 66-73, May 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2017.12.016.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
VAS Scale
It measures:
- Odor intensity (experimental only)
- Odor liking (experimental only)
- Odor familiarity (experimental only)
- Perceived time pressure (both groups) Meaning: Higher scores indicate greater perceived intensity/liking/familiarity/pressure (depending on the item).
Reference: M. Koo y S.-W. Yang, "Visual Analogue Scale", Encyclopedia, vol. 5, n.o 4, nov. 2025, doi: 10.3390/encyclopedia5040190.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
UEQ-S - User Experience Questionnaire Short
It masures the user experience. Dimensions: Pragmatic and hedonic. Scoring logic: Higher scores indicate better user experience.
Reference: M. Schrepp, A. Hinderks, and J. Thomaschewski, "Design and Evaluation of a Short Version of the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ-S)," Int. J. Interact. Multimed. Artif. Intell., vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 103-108, Dec. 2017.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Performance rate
Measures of the number of correct answers, response time, and use of clues
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Feb 2026
- Study start10 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 May 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Auditory StimuliStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad de Zaragoza
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Guillermo Palacios, Universidad de Zaragoza
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07395830
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UTI-VI-060-2025
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of a Multisensory VR Experience on Stress and User Experience: A Randomized Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07395830
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UTI-VI-060-2025
- Conditions
- To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Auditory Stimuli, To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Olfactory Stimuli
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad de ZaragozaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 May 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study explicitly tests a multisensory virtual reality experience that combines visual, auditory, and olfactory channels to modulate the stress response in young adults. In addition to visual and auditory stimulation, the study also assesses whether a relaxing olfactory stimulus attenuates this effect. The environment and task remain constant (constant visuals); auditory and olfactory elements are varied. Objective. To evaluate the main effects of varying auditory and olfactory stimuli, as well as their interaction, on variables related to the performance of a quiz-type task in virtual reality.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Factorial
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | –Control Group |
| Experimental | Experimental | Other: Relaxing aroma and state of stress/calmExperimental Group |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- must meet the required age.
- must have corrected vision/hearing.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- uncontrolled asthma.
- uncontrolled odor-triggered migraines.
- pregnancy state.
- nasal congestion.
- severe predisposition to dizziness in virtual reality.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Relaxing aroma and state of stress/calmA 2×2 randomized design is used. The Aroma condition is between subjects (relaxing aroma vs. no aroma) (experimental group and control group). The Mode condition is within each group and consists of two blocks: Stress and Calm. The order of the blocks is counterbalanced (Stress-Calm/Calm-Stress): half of the participants experience Stress first and then Calm, and the other half in the reverse order. | Other | Experimental |
Primary outcome
NASA Task Load Index
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
This test measures perceived mental workload. It has the following dimensions: Mental demand, effort, physical demand, performance, time constraints, and frustration level. Scoring interpretation: Higher scores for mental demand, effort, physical demand, time constraints, and frustration level indicate a greater workload/demand. Higher performance indicates a better experience. Reference: S. G. Hart y L. E. Staveland, "Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of Empirical and Theoretical Research", en Advances in Psychology, vol. 52, North-Holland, 1988, pp. 139-183. doi: 10.1016/S0166-4115(08)62386-9.
Short Stress State Questionnaire (SSSQ)
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Test to measure stress levels. It has three dimensions: engagement, anxiety, and worry. Scoring interpretation: * Higher score in anxiety/worry -> worse (more stress) * Higher score in engagement -> better (more involvement/functional activation) Reference: W. S. Helton y K. Näswall, "Short Stress State Questionnaire", Eur. J. Psychol. Assess., vol. 31, n.o 1, pp. 20-30, jun. 2015, doi: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000200.
5 secondary outcomes
IPQ - Igroup Presence Questionnaire
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
VRSQ - Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
VAS Scale
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
UEQ-S - User Experience Questionnaire Short
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Performance rate
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Relaxing aroma and state of stress/calm in people with To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Auditory Stimuli and To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Olfactory Stimuli, run by Universidad de Zaragoza.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Guillermo Palacios, PhD (+34978618179, guillermo.palacios@unizar.es), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
NASA Task Load Index (time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Feb 2026.