Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

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

60 participantsStarted 2026-08-30

Plain-language summary

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.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 35 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * University students enrolled at the institution where the study will be conducted. * Ages 18 to 35. * Students exhibiting moderate levels of stress or anxiety related to academic assessments. * Students who agree to participate voluntarily and sign the informed consent form. * Students who are able to attend the intervention session and the neuropsychological and neurophysiological (EEG) assessments. * Presenting a critical stressful event (an exam) Exclusion Criteria: * Students with a prior diagnosis of neurological disorders that may affect brain activity recorded by EEG. * Students currently undergoing psychiatric treatment or taking medications that alter brain activity. * Individuals with recent use of psychoactive substances that may interfere with neurophysiological recordings. * Students who do not complete the initial or final assessments of the study. * Students who refuse to sign the informed consent form.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Stress

Timeframe: Pre-Post intervention / 1 Week

Anxiety

Timeframe: Pre-Post intervention / 1 Week

Neurophysiological measures

Timeframe: During the intervention (20 min)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07555158

SponsorUniversidad Autonoma de Baja California

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-10-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Anxiety trials