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Suspended

NCT Number: NCT06902506

Exploring the Effects of Sonic Augmentation Technology in Music

Brief Summary:

It is the specific intent of this proposal to experimentally explore the possible benefits and mechanisms through which Sonic Augmentation Technology in music can influence emotional health, embodiment, and autonomic functioning. The main goals of the study are:

* To examine the immediate effects of listening to the music. * To identify individual characteristics that influence the effectiveness of listening to the music. * Phase 1 ONLY: To examine whether the participants who received the augmented theme reported more improvements than the participants who received the non-augmented theme.

Participants will be asked to attend a scheduled online Zoom meeting where they will:

* Listen to 15-minutes of music * Complete a pre-music and post-music online survey * Phase 1 ONLY: Attend the lecture/discussion with Dr. Porges and Anthony Gorry on theory and science underlying sonic augmentation technology and the experiences it aims to evoke.

Why the study stopped: Keeping the study open for future recruitment.
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Key information

Conditions

Sonic Augmentation Technology

Age range

18 year–89 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

UF Health Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida, 32209, United States

About this study

Detailed Description:

It is the specific intent of this proposal to experimentally explore the possible benefits and mechanisms through which Sonic Augmentation Technology (SAT) in music can influence emotional health, embodiment, and autonomic functioning. This will be accomplished by our team by using well-validated self-report measures of mental health and autonomic reactivity.

Specific Aims:

Specific Aim 1: To examine the immediate effects of SAT in music

•The researchers will explore whether SAT in music leads to improvements in the functioning.

Specific Aim 2: To identify individual characteristics that influence the effectiveness of listening to the music.

  • The researchers will explore the impact of specific vulnerability and resiliency factors (e.g., prior mental and medical adversity) on how well participants benefit from listening to the music.
  • The researchers will explore the impact of wearing headphones on how well participants benefit from listening to the music.

Phase 1 Experimental design:

Participants will be randomly assigned to either a Sonic Augmentation Technology-enhanced music condition or a control condition featuring the same musical theme without the enhancement. Participants will be asked to attend one virtual session via Zoom where they will:

  • Listen to 15-minutes of music
  • Complete a pre-music and post-music online survey
  • Attend the lecture/discussion with Dr. Porges and Anthony Gorry on theory and science underlying sonic augmentation technology and the experiences it aims to evoke.

Phase 2 Experimental design:

Participants will be asked to attend one virtual session via Zoom where they will:

  • Listen to 15-minutes of music
  • Complete a pre-music and post-music online survey
  • At a later date, participants will be offered the opportunity to attend an optional meeting where results will be disseminated, and Dr. Stephen Porges will be offering insights into the theory and science underlying sonic augmentation technology and the experiences it aims to evoke.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Between the ages of 18 and 89
  • Proficient in English

Exclusion criteria

  • Under the age of 18
  • Over the age of 89
  • Limited English Proficiency

Treatment and study plan

Augmented Music

Behavioral

Phase 1 & 2: The music is augmented by embedding the natural rhythms of bodily functions (e.g. breathing, heart rate variability, vascular tone, etc) that signal the body to calm.

Non-augmented Music

Behavioral

Phase 1 ONLY: Same melodic theme without the augmentation.

Primary outcomes

  1. Assessing the Impact of Autonomic Reactivity using the Body Perceptions Inventory Short Form

    Time frame: Baseline

    This 20-item measure is scored on a 5-point Likert scale (never = 1, occasionally = 2, sometimes = 3, usually = 4, always = 5). Items are summed to determine total autonomic reactivity score, with the higher scores indicating greater autonomic reactivity

  2. Assessing the Impact of Adversity History

    Time frame: Baseline

    This measure assesses the impact of six types of traumatic experiences (childhood adverse experiences, childhood maltreatment, intimate partner maltreatment, other person maltreatment, life-threatening situations, sudden losses, and person health situations). Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale (did not occur = 0, occurred and no impact on my life = 1 to big impact on my life = 4). Items are summed to determine total impact scores.

  3. Measuring Change in subjective feelings of calmness and autonomic state using the Benefits List

    Time frame: From baseline through study completion, an average of 65 minutes

    This 20-item measure, which assesses subjective feelings of calmness and autonomic state was created for this study. Each item is scored on a 7-point Likert scale (0 = Not at all, 3 = Somewhat, 6 = Extremely). Higher scores on the scale generally represent increased feelings of calmness and a more balanced autonomic state.

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Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Florida

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Exploring the Effects of Sonic Augmentation Technology in Music on Feelings and Biobehavioral State

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Mar 30, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 8, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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