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EEG-Guided Binaural Beat Audio for Stress and Cognition in Musicians

This study is looking at whether a 30-minute audio intervention can help reduce stress related to performing and improve thinking skills in musicians. The intervention uses special headphones that play "binaural beat audio," which is sound that has slightly different frequencies in each ear. A small brainwave sensor (EEG) on your forehead guides the audio in real-time to help your brain reach a target state. We're comparing this to a control audio session that uses regular music. We'll measure brain activity using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) before and after the audio sessions to see if there are changes in how your brain responds to certain tasks. This study is for adult undergraduate music majors at Texas Tech University who are preparing for a concert and can read music.

Study design
This is a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study with 32 participants. This means participants are randomly assigned to receive either the special audio or a control audio, and neither you nor the researchers will know which you receive.
What's involved
You would complete a single in-person visit lasting about 3 hours. This includes screening, training, fMRI scans, a 30-minute audio session, and more fMRI scans.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your brain activity will be measured immediately before and immediately after the 30-minute audio session.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07407426

EEG-Guided Binaural Beat Audio to Reduce Performance-Related Stress and Improve Cognition

Recruiting
NAAges 18+Interventional
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
~32 participants
Updated 2026-08-24 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:EEG-guided binaural beat audioNon-binaural audio intervention

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Differences in fMRI blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses of the brain in response to Stop Signals of a Stop Signal Reaction Time (SSRT) recorded following administration of each intervention and sham control.
Measured over Baseline (immediately prior to 30-minute intervention/control audio session) and immediately post-intervention/control audio session (within 30 minutes after completion of session).
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Cognitive Abilities
Performance
Stress
Cognitive Performance

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Cognitive PerformanceStress

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Texas1

Who to contact

Chathurika S Dhanasekara, MD, PhD
[email protected]
806 743 2378
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Adults (18+ years) enrolled as undergraduate music majors at Texas Tech University
Currently preparing for an upcoming concert performance within the next 3 months
Able to read standard musical notation

Exclusion

Subjects with contraindications to undergo MRI after being screened by the TTNI safety screening sheet - specifically, Subjects with implanted devices that are not compatible with MRI including, but not limited to cardiac pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, aneurysm clips, carotid artery vascular clamps, implanted nerve stimulators (neuron-stimulators also called TENS or wires), bone growth or bone fusion stimulators, cochlear implants, vagus nerve stimulators, filters for blood clots (Umbrella, Greenfield, bird's nest), embolization coils (e.g. Gianturco) in the brain, ocular implants, vascular stents, medication pumps, medication patches delivering medications, implanted limbs, ventricular shunts, metal joints, rods, plates, pins, screws, nails, or clips, penile implants, or contraceptives devices including IUDs, cervical pessaries and diaphragms Subjects who have undergone cataract surgery Subjects who have shrapnel or metal in the head, eyes or skin Subjects with a history of working with metal fragments ( or have had metal removed from eyes Subjects with gunshot wounds or BB gun injury Subjects with permanent metal body piercings or jewelry that cannot be removed Subjects who use hearing aids or have braces / permanent retainers that cannot be removed temporarily for the MRI scans Subjects with large tattoos in the head and neck area Subjects with claustrophobia Subjects who are currently pregnant or suspected to be pregnant
Physical, medical, neurological or psychiatric impairments (including substance abuse)
Current use of medications that could affect cognitive performance (including beta-blockers, stimulants, anxiolytics, antidepressants, or antipsychotics)
History of head injury resulting in loss of consciousness/history of brain surgery
History of diagnosed hearing impairment or use of hearing aids
Current or past diagnosis of epilepsy or seizure disorders
Unwillingness or inability to refrain from alcohol consumption 48 hours prior to the study visit
Unwillingness or inability to refrain from caffeine consumption 12 hours prior to the study visit
Current/past history of substance abuse
Pregnancy or possibility of pregnancy
Unwillingness or inability to follow written, on-screen, and verbal instructions given by the study team

What this trial measures

  • Differences in fMRI blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses of the brain in response to Stop Signals of a Stop Signal Reaction Time (SSRT) recorded following administration of each intervention and sham control.Baseline (immediately prior to 30-minute intervention/control audio session) and immediately post-intervention/control audio session (within 30 minutes after completion of session).

    fMRI task-related activity in dlPFC, amygdala, and hippocampus during SSRT.

  • Differences in fMRI blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses in the brain to images of the staff during the Music Reading Task (MRT), recorded following administration of each intervention and sham control.Baseline (immediately prior to 30-minute intervention/control audio session) and immediately post-intervention/control audio session (within 30 minutes after completion of session).

    fMRI task-related activity in dlPFC, amygdala, hippocampus, and reactivity of mirror-neuron-related regions will be examined and compared between the groups.

  • Differences in fMRI blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) responses in the brain to images of the staff during the Music Memory Retrieval Task (MMRT), recorded after administration of each intervention and the sham control.Baseline (immediately prior to 30-minute intervention/control audio session) and immediately post-intervention/control audio session (within 30 minutes after completion of session).

    fMRI task-related activity in dlPFC, amygdala, hippocampus, and reactivity of mirror-neuron-related regions will be examined and compared between the groups.