Impact of Play Interventions on Stress and Anxiety Using EEG and AI.

Sponsor
Universidad Autonoma de Baja California
Study ID
NCT07555158
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Anxiety
  • Stress

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 35 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • playful intervention — BEHAVIORAL
    The intervention lasts approximately 15-20 minutes and consists of three steps: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (5 minutes): This behavioral therapy aims to increase psychological flexibility. It focuses on accepting negative thoughts and emotions, clarifying goals, and being fully present in the moment (Mindfulness). This therapy is carried out in four steps: Grounding Mindful Acceptance Cognitive defusion Reconnecting with goals Guided drawing (5-10 minutes): It is a form of art-based therapy, where structured graphic activities are used to explore and represent emotions or thoughts. Body Micropractice (5 minutes): These are small somatic interventions that regulate the autonomic nervous system by stimulating the vagus nerve. Conscious movements and breathing.

Study Details

This project will target university students during their exam periods, whether midterms, finals, regular exams, or make-up exams, as this is a time particularly sensitive to academic stress. Participation will be voluntary, with informed consent, and will take place in a space specially prepared to facilitate creative expression and gentle physical movement. The intervention aims to address this need through the use of brief expressive and somatic techniques, such as guided drawing, body movement, and symbolic reinterpretation. These practices activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting states of calm and security that improve cognitive performance. The intervention lasts 20 minutes in a single session, integrating spontaneous drawing, guided emotional self-reflection, and gentle body exercises. Incorporating the recording of brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG) during the intervention, in a subgroup of participants with the help of the Emotiv Epoc X device, allowing objective observation of the modulation of brain activity in response to the emotional stimulus of the exam and measuring possible changes in electrical patterns associated with states of anxiety, attention and working memory.

Key Dates

First listed
Apr 29, 2026
Start date
Aug 30, 2026
Status verified
Jun 2025
Primary completion
Oct 30, 2026
Completion
Mar 15, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Playful intervention.
    Participants engage in recreational activities designed to promote emotional regulation before the exam.
  • No Intervention: waiting list
    Participants do not receive the intervention during the study phase, allowing their results to be compared with those of the experimental group. This group serves as a reference to determine whether the observed changes are truly due to the play-based intervention.

Primary Outcome Measure

Stress [ Time Frame: Pre-Post intervention / 1 Week ]

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