MedTrace Logo

Effects of Nature-Based Virtual Reality and Binaural Beats on Heart Rate Variability and Relaxation

NCT07431918 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 18

Last updated 2026-02-25

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The VRELAX study is a non-clinical sub-study within the "Decreasing Preoperative Stress to Prevent Postoperative Delirium and Postoperative Cognitive Decline in Cardiac Surgical Patients"- research program (DESTRESS; NCT05036538), which investigates non-pharmacological relaxation interventions using virtual reality and binaural auditory stimulation. In a randomized counterbalanced within-subject design, non-clinical adult participants complete two sessions separated by a 1 day intervention-free interval. A 30-minute immersive nature-based virtual reality exposure combined with gradually decreasing binaural beats (10-1 Hertz (Hz)), and a control condition without relaxation. Heart rate variability (HRV) is recorded continuously, and subjective stress is assessed before and after each condition. The primary outcome is parasympathetic activation operationalized as high-frequency (HF) power of heart rate variability. Secondary outcomes include additional HRV parameters and self-reported stress ratings. The study aims to characterize short-term relaxation effects and evaluate the feasibility of independent use in everyday settings, supporting interpretation of clinical findings of the DESTRESS trial.

Conditions

  • Stress
  • Relaxation
  • Virtual Reality
  • Binaural Beats

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Nature-Based Virtual Reality With Binaural Beats

A 30-minute immersive virtual reality exposure to natural environments combined with binaural auditory stimulation gradually decreasing from alpha to delta frequency range (10-1 Hz).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Heart and Brain Research Group, Germany

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-02-25
Primary Completion
2026-12-20
Completion
2026-12-20

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07431918 on ClinicalTrials.gov