Emotional Stimulation for Anxiety

(NeuroArt Trial)

Overseen By Olivier Beauchet, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Centre integre universitaire de sante et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal

Disqualifiers: Concurrent study, Language barrier, Non-binary

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

120 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Digital Artwork of Musicalized Impressionist Paintings for anxiety?

Research shows that music interventions can effectively reduce anxiety in various settings, such as dental procedures and emergency departments, by lowering heart rate and blood pressure, and improving mood. This suggests that combining music with visual art, like musicalized impressionist paintings, might also help reduce anxiety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Emotional Stimulation for Anxiety treatment safe for humans?

Research on similar treatments, like music and art therapy, suggests they are generally safe for humans. Studies have shown that these therapies can reduce stress and improve mood without significant side effects. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does the Emotional Stimulation for Anxiety treatment differ from other anxiety treatments?

Emotional Stimulation for Anxiety is unique because it uses emotional responses to music and other stimuli to help reduce anxiety, unlike traditional treatments that often rely on medication or talk therapy. This approach leverages the calming effects of music and emotional engagement, which can be particularly effective for those who respond well to auditory and visual stimuli. ^{1 11 12 13 14}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Global warming, progressing at a rapid pace in Canada, is causing severe consequences for ecosystems and human health. Rising temperatures accelerate glacier melting, increase heat waves, and disrupt biodiversity. These environmental changes impact mental health, notably through ecoanxiety, a form of anxiety linked to climate change. Although ecoanxiety is a natural reaction to environmental degradation, it can lead to chronic stress, generalized anxiety, and even depression. Recent studies show that ecoanxiety is increasingly common, especially among young people. In Quebec, 73% of young adults (18-35 years) report experiencing ecoanxiety, with 42% experiencing significant levels. Vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous communities like the Inuit of Nunavik, are particularly affected. To address ecoanxiety, interventions focused on emotional management and reconnecting with nature are essential. Studies show that outdoor activities such as walking or gardening reduce negative emotions and improve well-being by fostering a connection with nature, thereby increasing resilience to climate change. Art, especially pictorial art, is emerging as a promising tool in combating ecoanxiety. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the mental health benefits of art, which is not only beneficial for those suffering from mental illness but also for the general population. The Quebec Interministerial Mental Health Action Plan (PAISM) 2022-2026 highlights the promotion of art as a priority in mental health prevention. Among art forms, the contemplation of Impressionist paintings has shown positive effects, generating emotions of serenity and deeper reflection on our relationship with nature. Music therapy also plays a vital role in anxiety management, promoting relaxation and emotional expression. Music, in particular, has shown promise in reducing ecoanxiety. Listening to music can alleviate anxiety and depression by stimulating the limbic system, which regulates emotions. Music can also modulate physiological stress responses and strengthen personal resilience, enhancing emotional regulation in environmental crises. An innovative approach involves creating music from electrophysiological signals captured from plants, a process known as sonification. This nature-inspired music fosters a deeper connection with the environment, potentially reducing ecoanxiety and increasing resilience. Emotions, both positive and negative, are central to mental health. According to James Russell\'s circumplex theory of emotions, they are classified into two dimensions: valence (pleasant or unpleasant) and arousal (energy level). Positive emotions like joy and relaxation promote well-being, while negative emotions, such as anxiety and sadness, have detrimental effects on mental health. Emotional responses manifest through physiological changes, such as increased heart rate and skin conductance. Modern technologies, like functional MRI, allow researchers to observe the brain\'s activity in areas like the amygdala, responsible for emotional regulation. Digital technologies have revolutionized the use of art in promoting mental health. Immersive digital interventions, such as apps that allow users to experience art online, have shown positive results. One such app currently in development combines the works of Impressionist painters Claude Monet and Helen McNicoll with music created from plant electrophysiological signals. This digital combination of art and nature offers emotional benefits, promoting well-being in the face of climate challenges. It is well-established that positive emotions play a crucial role in improving mental health and protecting against ecoanxiety. Research shows that Impressionist paintings and music can generate positive emotions. This study hypothesizes that (1) observing and listening to musicalized paintings can generate positive emotions, (2) the emotional effect is stronger when both stimuli are combined, and (3) these emotions vary with age.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals aged 18-35 or over 60, who identify with their biological sex and gender, without severe psychobehavioral or major neurocognitive disorders. Participants must not have serious visual or hearing impairments and must provide written consent.

Inclusion Criteria

My gender identity matches the sex I was assigned at birth.

No severe psychobehavioral or major neurocognitive disorders

Give written consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

Participate in another concurrent experimental clinical study, to avoid interference with our study

I identify as non-binary.

I cannot understand written or spoken French or English.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage with digital artwork combining Impressionist paintings and music created from plant electrophysiological signals to assess emotional responses.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for emotional responses and changes in ecoanxiety levels after the intervention.

2 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Digital Artwork of Musicalized Impressionist Paintings

Trial Overview The study tests the emotional impact of a digital artwork that combines Impressionist paintings with music derived from plant signals. It explores if this can generate positive emotions, especially when both visual and auditory stimuli are combined, and how age affects this response.

Participant Groups

Group I: Young Adults Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Adults from 18 to 35 years old

Group II: Elderly Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Adults aged 65 years ol or more

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Centre integre universitaire de sante et de services sociaux du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal

Lead Sponsor

Trials

15

Recruited

24,400+

Findings from Research

In a randomized controlled trial involving 170 emergency department patients, listening to purpose-designed music or sound compositions significantly reduced self-rated anxiety levels by 10%-15% compared to control groups that received no soundtrack or simulated ambient noise.

The most effective interventions included electroacoustic musical compositions and audio field recordings, both of which led to significant decreases in anxiety, highlighting the potential of sound therapy in clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Original sound compositions reduce anxiety in emergency department patients: a randomised controlled trial. Weiland, TJ., Jelinek, GA., Macarow, KE., et al.[2019]

Music interventions were largely effective in reducing patient anxiety across various medical and dental settings, except for colonoscopy procedures, highlighting the importance of tailored approaches to anxiety management.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) showed a high success rate of 89%, particularly excelling in dental settings, while other methods like Massage and Nature-based Interventions also demonstrated significant effectiveness, suggesting a variety of successful strategies for anxiety reduction in healthcare.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dealing with Anxious Patients: An Integrative Review of the Literature on Nonpharmaceutical Interventions to Reduce Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Medical or Dental Procedures. Weisfeld, CC., Turner, JA., Bowen, JI., et al.[2021]

In a randomized controlled trial of 170 patients undergoing vascular angiography, listening to self-selected music for 15 minutes significantly reduced pre-procedure anxiety compared to those who did not listen to music, with anxiety scores dropping from 38.57 to 35.2 in the music group.

The music intervention also led to a significant decrease in pulse rate, indicating that music is an effective and enjoyable noninvasive method for reducing anxiety and physiological stress in patients before medical procedures.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A music intervention to reduce anxiety before vascular angiography procedures. Buffum, MD., Sasso, C., Sands, LP., et al.[2006]

Music therapy significantly reduces heart rate, blood pressure fluctuations, anxiety scores, and pain levels in patients with dental anxiety disorders, based on a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Patients receiving music interventions showed increased cooperation during dental procedures, indicating that music therapy can enhance the overall dental experience for anxious patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of Music Intervention for Dental Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Tan, K., Liu, H., Huang, S., et al.[2023]

A study with 32 healthy participants found that a relaxing music environment (MusiCure) improved mood and facilitated faster recognition of happy facial expressions compared to irritating noise or silence.

Individuals with higher trait anxiety showed enhanced performance in recognizing emotions during the relaxing music condition, suggesting that sound environments can influence emotional processing, especially in anxious individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implicit processing of visual emotions is affected by sound-induced affective states and individual affective traits. Quarto, T., Blasi, G., Pallesen, KJ., et al.[2021]

In a study with 93 participants, relaxing music was found to potentially reduce the severity of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) during a 14-minute virtual bicycle ride.

The effectiveness of music in reducing VIMS was significantly linked to how pleasant the music was perceived, with women reporting higher levels of sickness than men, suggesting that pleasant music could be a simple and cost-effective countermeasure against VIMS.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pleasant music as a countermeasure against visually induced motion sickness. Keshavarz, B., Hecht, H.[2015]

In a pilot study of 48 participants undergoing cerebral angiography, the use of self-selected music did not significantly reduce stress responses (heart rate and blood pressure) or medication requirements compared to standard care.

Surprisingly, participants in the control group experienced significantly lower anxiety levels after the procedure compared to those who listened to music, suggesting that music may not be beneficial in this context.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a music intervention on patients undergoing cerebral angiography: a pilot study. Vanderboom, TL., Arcari, PM., Duffy, ME., et al.[2012]

In a study of 224 participants undergoing computed tomography colonography, listening to music and inhaling aroma oil did not significantly reduce perceived pain or affect vital signs compared to a control group.

Despite the lack of measurable effects on pain or discomfort, participants who experienced music and aroma reported a preference for these interventions in future procedures, indicating a positive subjective experience.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of listening to music and essential oil inhalation on patients undergoing screening CT colonography: a randomized controlled trial. Nagata, K., Iida, N., Kanazawa, H., et al.[2017]

Art-making with oil-pastels and gouache paint significantly improved positive mood in participants, while using pencil did not have the same effect, indicating that the choice of art material can influence emotional responses.

The study found that art-making with oil-pastels led to unique physiological responses, including changes in heart rate variability, suggesting that the tactile experience and fluidity of the materials may enhance emotional engagement during the creative process.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional Response and Changes in Heart Rate Variability Following Art-Making With Three Different Art Materials. Haiblum-Itskovitch, S., Czamanski-Cohen, J., Galili, G.[2020]

The study aims to explore how combining music and visual art can more effectively reduce pain and stress compared to experiencing either one alone, using a repeated-measures design with participants bringing their own chosen artworks and music.

Pain and stress responses will be measured through subjective reports and physiological markers, such as heart rate and cortisol levels, during a controlled cold pressor test, providing insights into the mechanisms behind aesthetic experiences.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does art reduce pain and stress? A registered report protocol of investigating autonomic and endocrine markers of music, visual art, and multimodal aesthetic experience. Fekete, A., Maidhof, RM., Specker, E., et al.[2022]

Live chamber music performances elicited the strongest positive emotional responses, especially among adult audiences familiar with classical music, indicating that live music can enhance emotional engagement.

Different age groups responded uniquely to music, with school children experiencing a calming effect but also increased tiredness, while older listeners reported heightened joy, suggesting that emotional responses to music are influenced by age and familiarity with the genre.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional Effects of Live and Recorded Music in Various Audiences and Listening Situations. Theorell, T., Bojner Horwitz, E.[2020]

In a study of 163 healthy adults watching an emotional film, peak inter-subject correlations (ISCs) in brain activity were observed during a moment of potential relief, indicating common emotional processing across participants.

The study found that higher ISC in alpha and beta frequency bands was associated with lower anxiety symptoms, suggesting that ISC could be a useful marker for understanding anxious moods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neural dynamics during emotional video engagement relate to anxiety. Nan, J., Balasubramani, PP., Ramanathan, D., et al.[2022]

The study successfully designed emotional visual music stimuli using a literature-based approach, validating their effectiveness as emotional stimuli through self-reported psychometric data and EEG responses from viewers.

When auditory and visual stimuli conveyed contradictory arousal information, the perceived emotion was influenced by the channel with the stronger arousal, suggesting that emotional responses can be enhanced when there is a positive congruency in valence despite conflicting arousal levels.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Arousal Rules: An Empirical Investigation into the Aesthetic Experience of Cross-Modal Perception with Emotional Visual Music. Lee, IE., Latchoumane, CV., Jeong, J.[2020]

Listening to operatic music alone can evoke positive emotions and physiological responses, such as increased heart rate, but knowing the sad plot while listening can shift emotions towards sadness while maintaining high arousal levels.

Watching the acting performance alongside the music further enhances emotional arousal and can transform feelings from sadness to a transcendent experience, highlighting the unique emotional impact of combining music with drama in opera.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotions induced by operatic music: psychophysiological effects of music, plot, and acting: a scientist's tribute to Maria Callas. Balteş, FR., Avram, J., Miclea, M., et al.[2015]

References

1. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Original sound compositions reduce anxiety in emergency department patients: a randomised controlled trial. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dealing with Anxious Patients: An Integrative Review of the Literature on Nonpharmaceutical Interventions to Reduce Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Medical or Dental Procedures. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A music intervention to reduce anxiety before vascular angiography procedures. [2006]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of Music Intervention for Dental Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implicit processing of visual emotions is affected by sound-induced affective states and individual affective traits. [2021]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pleasant music as a countermeasure against visually induced motion sickness. [2015]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a music intervention on patients undergoing cerebral angiography: a pilot study. [2012]

8. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of listening to music and essential oil inhalation on patients undergoing screening CT colonography: a randomized controlled trial. [2017]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional Response and Changes in Heart Rate Variability Following Art-Making With Three Different Art Materials. [2020]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does art reduce pain and stress? A registered report protocol of investigating autonomic and endocrine markers of music, visual art, and multimodal aesthetic experience. [2022]

11. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotional Effects of Live and Recorded Music in Various Audiences and Listening Situations. [2020]

12. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neural dynamics during emotional video engagement relate to anxiety. [2022]

13. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Arousal Rules: An Empirical Investigation into the Aesthetic Experience of Cross-Modal Perception with Emotional Visual Music. [2020]

14. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotions induced by operatic music: psychophysiological effects of music, plot, and acting: a scientist's tribute to Maria Callas. [2015]