Effects of Natural Sounds on Attention Restoration Outdoors

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to examine whether listening to natural sounds in a noisy outdoor environment compared to no natural sounds influences behavioural, cognitive, affective, and physiological markers.

Detailed Description
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The investigators hypothesize that listening to natural sounds has restorative effects on attention by supporting greater use of involuntary attention. This generates the prediction that exposure to natural sounds in the context of a noisy outdoor environment will have greater restorative effects on attention (i.e., physiological, affective, cognitive, and behavioural) as compared to the control group (exposed to environmental noise only). Individual differences (i.e., age, gender, caffeine and food intake, body mass index, skin temperature, noise sensitivity, sleep quality, baseline physiology and behavioural performance) will be examined and accounted for. Environmental factors (i.e., outdoor humidity, temperature, and noise) will also be accounted for.

Official Title
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Effects of Natural Sounds on Attention Restoration Outdoors

Conditions
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Cognitive Fatigue, Mental Fatigue, Behavioral Performance, Heart Rate Variability, Positive and Negative Affect, Inhibition, Psychological, Working Memory, Perceived Restoration

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Masking Sounds
* Other: No Masking Sounds


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Singapore-based Non-clinical 18-35years Exclusion Criteria: Individuals with hearing difficulties or failing to meet the minimal threshold for normal hearing Individuals with a history of ear, developmental, neurological, or psychiatric disorder

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Outdoor Environment<br>Exposure to outdoor environmental noise | Other: No Masking Sounds<br>* No masking sounds will be played from outdoor speakers.<br>|
| Experimental: Outdoor Environment with Machine-Learning Selected Masking Sounds<br>Exposure to outdoor environmental noise and masking sounds | Other: Masking Sounds<br>* Masking sounds will be played from outdoor speakers.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reverse Corsi Task (Change) | Change in Span and Reaction Time | baseline and up to 60 mins after sound intervention | 
| Go/NoGo Task (Change) | Change in Accuracy and Reaction Time | baseline and up to 60 mins after sound intervention | 
| Change in Heart Rate Variability | Electrocardiograph and photoplethysmograph (Change) | 1 day (during fatiguing task and sound intervention) | 
| Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form | Positive and Negative Affect Score | up to 60 mins after sound intervention | 
| Fatigue State Questionnaire (Change) | Change in Fatigue State Questionnaire Score | baseline and up to 60 mins after sound intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale | Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale Score | up to 60 mins after sound intervention |