Physiology of Liberation

Conditions

• Psychophysiological Reactivity and Recovery

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Brief Standardized Mindfulness/Attention Instruction — BEHAVIORAL
  At one or more assigned study measurement sessions, participants receive a brief, standardized, non-clinical instruction lasting approximately 1 to 10 minutes. The instruction directs attention to breathing or another clear body sensation, briefly acknowledges thoughts, emotions, wanting, resisting, or urges, and returns attention to the selected sensation. The number, duration, and schedule of sessions are specified before each study wave begins and applied consistently within that wave; comparison sessions are time-matched. Participants may open their eyes, change position, or stop at any time.

Study Details

This academic study examines how everyday experiences are related to short-term physiological reactivity and recovery and whether one or more brief standardized mindfulness/attention-instruction sessions change these patterns. Adults living in the United States who can read and understand the English study materials participate for up to 4 weeks and complete 5 to 7 brief smartphone surveys per day on 14 total ecological momentary assessment (EMA) days during waking hours. The 14 EMA days may be consecutive or divided into two 7-day measurement bursts. Surveys include current experiences and recent alcohol and nicotine use; these reports are analyzed as contextual variables and are not automatic exclusion criteria. Some participants also use assigned non-invasive wearable sensors or blood-pressure monitors during prespecified measurement windows. Device output is used only for research measurement, not diagnosis, treatment, real-time medical decision-making, or patient management. In study waves with a randomized comparison, participants are randomized after consent to one or more brief mindfulness/attention-instruction sessions or time-matched no-instruction comparison sessions. Session duration, schedule, and allocation probabilities are specified before each study wave begins and applied consistently within that wave.

Key Dates

First listed

Aug 21, 2026

Start date

Sep 30, 2026

Status verified

Aug 2026

Primary completion

Aug 31, 2027

Completion

Sep 30, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment

20 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

• Experimental: Mindfulness/Attention Instruction
  Participants receive one or more brief standardized mindfulness/attention-instruction sessions at assigned measurement sessions and complete the same measurement schedule as the comparison arm. Each session lasts approximately 1 to 10 minutes. The number, duration, and schedule of sessions are specified before each study wave begins and applied consistently within that wave.
• No Intervention: No-Instruction Comparison
  Participants sit quietly in a comfortable position as they normally would during one or more time-matched no-instruction comparison sessions. No particular attention or meditation method is requested. Each session lasts approximately 1 to 10 minutes. The number, duration, and schedule of sessions are specified before each study wave begins and applied consistently within that wave; participants complete the same measurement schedule as the experimental arm.

Primary Outcome Measure

Time to 50% Return to Pre-Event Baseline Skin Conductance Level [ Time Frame: Repeatedly during 14 EMA days within each enrollment period of up to 4 weeks ]

Central Contacts

• Jiayin Sun, PhD
  617-353-9640
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

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