Music and ABS as a Potential Anxiety Intervention

September 29, 2025 updated by: Frank Russo, Toronto Metropolitan University

Music and Auditory Beat Stimulation and Its Effect on Anxiety

Anxiety is a growing problem and has been steadily increasing, particularly in the adolescent and young adult populations in the past 24 years. Music and auditory beat stimulation (ABS) in the theta frequency range (4-7 Hz) are sound-based anxiety treatments that have been investigated in prior studies with subjective measures of anxiety. Here, the anxiety-reducing potential of calm music combined with theta ABS will be examined in a large sample of participants with objective psychophysiological measures (heart rate variability and EEG), stress hormone measures (salivary cortisol) along with subjective measures (STICSA state). Participants with a GAD-2 score of 1 or higher (indicating generalized anxiety) will be randomly assigned to a single 24-27 minute session of sound-based treatment: combined (music & ABS), or pink noise (control). Pre- and post-intervention heart rate variability and EEG band power (alpha, beta, delta, and theta bands), salivary cortisol, along with somatic and cognitive state anxiety measures (STICSA State) will be collected along with trait anxiety (STICSA Trait), and music absorption (Absorption in Music Scale). The investigators predict that the music & ABS condition will have significantly increased power in the theta and alpha bands, higher heart rate variability, higher state anxiety reduction, and lower salivary cortisol levels compared to the pink noise control condition.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

In this study, the investigators will examine and compare the effectiveness of a combination of music and theta auditory beat stimulation (ABS) (as measured by the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA)) compared to a control condition (pink noise). Prior work has demonstrated that ABS and music both reduce anxiety when presented on their own. It is hypothesized that music with ABS will lead to significantly lower anxiety levels and increased calmness compared to the pink noise control condition. Approximately 50 participants with a GAD-2 score of 1 or more (indicating generalized anxiety) will be recruited from the greater Toronto area. The study will be conducted in the SMART lab at Toronto Metropolitan University and the experimental treatment will be presented through earphones connected to a laptop. Upon arrival in the lab research staff will go over experimental expectations, and participants will be asked to fill out the Absorption in Music Scale (AIMS), the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), and the STICSA trait and state. They will also be asked if they take any medication or use any alternative techniques to manage their anxiety (Anxiety Coping Measures Questionnaire). A baseline salivary cortisol sample will be taken from participants. Participants will then undergo EEG administration, assessment of spontaneous blink rate, and HRV, first obtaining a baseline level of these measures. EEG (alpha, beta, delta, and theta bands) will be recorded using the BioSemi EEG system via 64 scalp electrode sites according to the international 10-20 electrode system as done in a previous study examining EEG response to meditation. Linked mastoids will serve as a reference. Horizontal eye movements will be recorded using two electrodes placed 1 cm lateral to the outer canthi of each eye. Vertical eye movement potentials will be recorded using two electrodes placed in the center of the supraorbital and infraorbital regions of the left eye. These will be used to obtain the spontaneous blink rate of participants which is an analog of the sensitivity and responsiveness of the mesostriatal dopaminergic system that has in previous studies determined the degree to which gamma binaural beats affect cognition. Heart rate variability will also be recorded via the BioSemi system with two flat active electrodes attached to the participant's left and right wrists. Participants will then listen to their randomly assigned intervention for 24-27 minutes (music with theta ABS or pink noise). A post-intervention salivary cortisol sample will be taken along with a post-intervention EEG and HRV reading and the completion of the STICSA state anxiety questionnaire. An additional salivary cortisol sample will be taken 15 minutes after the end of the auditory treatment. The investigators predict that the music & ABS condition will have significantly increased power in the theta and alpha bands compared to the pink noise control condition. The investigators also predict that the music & ABS condition will have higher heart rate variability compared to the pink noise control condition. The investigators also expect to see significantly higher state anxiety reduction and significantly lower salivary cortisol levels in the music & ABS condition compared to the pink noise control condition.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
92

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Kay Wright-Whyte, MSc
  • Phone Number: 554989 4169795000
  • Email: kww@torontomu.ca

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 2K3
        • Toronto Metropolitan University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 38 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • GAD-2 score of 1 or higher indicating generalized anxiety.
  • Age between 18-30 years
  • Undergraduate student
  • Comfortable speaking and understanding English
  • Self-reported normal hearing

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Self-reported history of cardiovascular conditions (e.g., arrhythmia, heart disease)
  • History of seizures or epilepsy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Music and Theta Auditory Beat Stimulation
Behavioural: Listening to calm music and auditory beat stimulation Participants will listen to calm music with theta auditory beat stimulation for 24-27 minutes
Behavioral: Music and Theta Auditory Beat Stimulation
Participants will listen to calm music with theta auditory beat stimulation for 24-27 minutes
Sham Comparator: Pink Noise (control)
Behavioural: Listening to pink noise Participants will listen to pink noise for 24 minutes
Behavioral: Pink Noise (control)
Participants will listen to pink noise for 24 minutes

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Self-Assessment Manikin
Time Frame: 24-27 minutes
Two series of Self-Assessment Manikins (SAM) will be administered to assess state emotional valence and arousal before and after the audio intervention. Participants will be asked to rate on two scales with accompanying images how they are feeling right now (unhappy to happy) and their energy levels from calm to excited both on a scale from 1-5. The pre-intervention SAM serves two purposes: the first, to assess baseline affect and the second, to select the playlist that the participant listens to if assigned to the audio intervention. The post-intervention SAM will serve to assess changes in affect following the intervention.
24-27 minutes
Anxiety: EEG band power (alpha, beta, delta and theta bands)
Time Frame: 24-27 minutes
EEG band power is a good objective physiological measure of anxiety and relaxation. It has good reliability and validity and has been used as an anxiety/relaxation measure in multiple studies (Aftanas, Pavlov, Reva, & Varlamov, 2003; Gálvez, Recuero, Canuet, & Del-Pozo, 2018; Knyazev, Savostyanov, & Levin, 2005; Lee, Bhattacharya, Sohn, & Verres, 2012; Tarrant, Viczko, & Cope, 2018).
24-27 minutes
Anxiety: Heart rate variability (HRV)
Time Frame: 24-27 minutes
Heart rate variability is a good objective physiological measure of anxiety. It has good reliability and validity and has been used as an anxiety measure in multiple studies (Chalmers, Quintana, Abbott, & Kemp, 2014; Gorman & Sloan, 2000; Licht, de Geus, van Dyck, & Penninx, 2009; Pittig, Arch, Lam, & Craske, 2013).
24-27 minutes
Anxiety: Stress hormone levels: Salivary cortisol
Time Frame: 24-27 minutes
Salivary cortisol is a good objective measure of stress and anxiety. It has good reliability and validity and has been used as an anxiety measure in multiple studies (Mantella et al., 2008; Vedhara et al., 2003; Vreeburg et al., 2010).
24-27 minutes
Anxiety: State Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA)
Time Frame: 24-27 minutes
The State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) is a 21-item measure designed to measure somatic (11 items) and cognitive symptoms (10 items) of anxiety at both the trait and state levels. To differentiate between state and trait anxiety symptoms, participants will complete two versions of the measure, one where they rate how they "feel right now at this very moment" (STICSA-State) and one where they rate "how they feel in general" (STICSA-Trait). Respondents rate the degree to which each item is true for them on a Likert scale ranging from 1 = not at all to 4 = very much so. Scores on the STICSA can range from 10 - 40 (cognitive) or 11 - 44 (somatic), with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.
24-27 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Absorption in Music Scale (AIMS)
Time Frame: 24-27 minutes
The Absorption in Music Scale (AIMS) is a 34-item measure of individuals' ability and willingness to allow music to draw them into an emotional experience. The Absorption in Music Scale (AIMS) was administered post-intervention, after completing all other post-intervention measures to avoid biasing responses. The AIMS will serve as a sub-group analysis to assess if individuals who report higher absorption respond better to the audio intervention in the treatment condition. The AIMS demonstrates strong convergent validity with the Tellegen Absorption Scale (r = .76) and the Musical Involvement Scale (r = .74).
24-27 minutes
Mood: Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS)
Time Frame: 24-27 minutes
The PANAS has good reliability and validity and has been widely used in many studies to assess mood (Gray, 2007; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). This scale generates two scores: 1) Positive affect (higher score indicates a better outcome), scores range from 10-50. 2) Negative affect (higher score indicates worse outcome), scores range from 10-50.
24-27 minutes
Anxiety Coping Measures
Time Frame: 24-27 minutes
This is a self-made questionnaire which asks whether the participant takes any anxiety medications, and about other coping strategies they may already employ.
24-27 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Toronto Metropolitan University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Frank Russo, PhD, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 10, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 28, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 28, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 1, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 3, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 29, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2020-068 LUCiD Anxiety

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Individual de-identified participant data for EEG band power, Heart rate variability (HRV), salivary cortisol, STICSA state anxiety, and PANAS measures will be shared on the Open Science Framework.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data will become available on the Open Science Framework (osf.io) when the pre-print of the study is uploaded to PsyArXiv. After that point the data will be available for a period of 5 years.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

All supporting information will be publicly accessible on the Open Science Framework (osf.io).

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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