To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Auditory Stimuli, To Evaluate the Main Effects of Varying Olfactory Stimuli
Conditions
Brief summary
This study explicitly tests a multisensory virtual reality experience that combines visual, auditory, and olfactory channels to modulate the stress response in young adults. In addition to visual and auditory stimulation, the study also assesses whether a relaxing olfactory stimulus attenuates this effect. The environment and task remain constant (constant visuals); auditory and olfactory elements are varied. Objective. To evaluate the main effects of varying auditory and olfactory stimuli, as well as their interaction, on variables related to the performance of a quiz-type task in virtual reality.
Interventions
OTHERRelaxing aroma and state of stress/calm
A 2×2 randomized design is used. The Aroma condition is between subjects (relaxing aroma vs. no aroma) (experimental group and control group). The Mode condition is within each group and consists of two blocks: Stress and Calm. The order of the blocks is counterbalanced (Stress-Calm/Calm-Stress): half of the participants experience Stress first and then Calm, and the other half in the reverse order.
Sponsors
Universidad de Zaragoza
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* must meet the required age. * must have corrected vision/hearing.
Exclusion criteria
* uncontrolled asthma. * uncontrolled odor-triggered migraines. * pregnancy state. * nasal congestion. * severe predisposition to dizziness in virtual reality.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| NASA Task Load Index | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks | This test measures perceived mental workload. It has the following dimensions: Mental demand, effort, physical demand, performance, time constraints, and frustration level. Scoring interpretation: Higher scores for mental demand, effort, physical demand, time constraints, and frustration level indicate a greater workload/demand. Higher performance indicates a better experience. Reference: S. G. Hart y L. E. Staveland, "Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of Empirical and Theoretical Research", en Advances in Psychology, vol. 52, North-Holland, 1988, pp. 139-183. doi: 10.1016/S0166-4115(08)62386-9. |
| Short Stress State Questionnaire (SSSQ) | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks | Test to measure stress levels. It has three dimensions: engagement, anxiety, and worry. Scoring interpretation: * Higher score in anxiety/worry -\> worse (more stress) * Higher score in engagement -\> better (more involvement/functional activation) Reference: W. S. Helton y K. Näswall, "Short Stress State Questionnaire", Eur. J. Psychol. Assess., vol. 31, n.o 1, pp. 20-30, jun. 2015, doi: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000200. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| IPQ - Igroup Presence Questionnaire | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks | A test that measures overall presence in VR. Dimensions: Spatial presence, engagement, realism. Scoring logic: Higher scores indicate greater presence. Reference: T. Schubert, F. Friedmann, and H. Regenbrecht, "The Experience of Presence: Factor Analytic Insights," Presence Teleoperators Virtual Environ., vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 266-281, June 2001, doi: 10.1162/105474601300343603. |
| VRSQ - Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks | It measures Cybersickness / motion sickness symptoms. Dimensions: General malaise, vestibular symptoms. Scoring logic: Higher scores indicate greater malaise. Reference: H. K. Kim, J. Park, Y. Choi, and M. Choe, "Virtual reality sickness questionnaire (VRSQ): Motion sickness measurement index in a virtual reality environment," Appl. Ergon., vol. 69, pp. 66-73, May 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2017.12.016. |
| VAS Scale | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks | It measures: * Odor intensity (experimental only) * Odor liking (experimental only) * Odor familiarity (experimental only) * Perceived time pressure (both groups) Meaning: Higher scores indicate greater perceived intensity/liking/familiarity/pressure (depending on the item). Reference: M. Koo y S.-W. Yang, "Visual Analogue Scale", Encyclopedia, vol. 5, n.o 4, nov. 2025, doi: 10.3390/encyclopedia5040190. |
| UEQ-S - User Experience Questionnaire Short | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks | It masures the user experience. Dimensions: Pragmatic and hedonic. Scoring logic: Higher scores indicate better user experience. Reference: M. Schrepp, A. Hinderks, and J. Thomaschewski, "Design and Evaluation of a Short Version of the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ-S)," Int. J. Interact. Multimed. Artif. Intell., vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 103-108, Dec. 2017. |
| Performance rate | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks | Measures of the number of correct answers, response time, and use of clues |
Contacts
CONTACTGuillermo Palacios, PhD
Outcome results
None listed