An interventional study of Spatial audio stimulation and No spatial audio stimulation in Spatial Audio Stimulation, sponsored by Stanford University. Withdrawn at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 99 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-18.
Sponsored by Stanford University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
The purpose of this study is to test whether the non-visual immersive technologies, which uses spatial audio simulation, can help people better tolerate heat pain. As a proof-of-concept study, study team will use the NOICE device. This research is not studying the NOICE device specifically and the device is not a medical device.
This study addresses the research gap in understanding how spatial audio impacts pain perception, specifically heat pain, in clinical settings. It is important to explore this because spatial audio may serve as a non-pharmaceutical, immersive alternative to traditional visual-based distraction methods like virtual reality.
The investigators hypothesize that participants using the spatial audio simulation device will report an increased heat pain threshold compared to not using the device. This knowledge could improve information on the perception of pain for participant who prefer not to use VR headsets.
Stanford University is the lead sponsor of 2,117 studies on the registry; 425 are open to participants now.
Of its 259 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 197 (76%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participant will receive spatial audio stimulation first and then will not receive spatial audio stimulation in the latter part of the study.
Behavioral: Spatial audio stimulation · Behavioral: No spatial audio stimulation
Participant will not receive spatial audio stimulation first and then will receive spatial audio stimulation in the latter part of the study.
Behavioral: Spatial audio stimulation · Behavioral: No spatial audio stimulation
Study RA will affix the thermode to the dorsum of the participant's dominant or non-dominant hand. Participants will undergo heat-pain-inducing thermode exposure. The intervention will be randomized to receive spatial audio stimulation or not for the first HPT trial, then crossed over to the other study condition for the second HPT trial. Participants will be randomized to expose their dominant or non-dominant hand first. Between each levels test, the thermode will be moved to the other hand (ex: VR: DH, NDH, DH; Nothing: NDH, DH, NDH). There will be a 30 second break between each levels test and a five-minute washout period between each intervention.
Study RA will affix the thermode to the dorsum of the participant's dominant or non-dominant hand. Participants will undergo heat-pain-inducing thermode exposure. The intervention will be randomized to receive spatial audio stimulation or not for the first HPT trial, then crossed over to the other study condition for the second HPT trial. Participants will be randomized to expose their dominant or non-dominant hand first. Between each levels test, the thermode will be moved to the other hand (ex: VR: DH, NDH, DH; Nothing: NDH, DH, NDH). There will be a 30 second break between each levels test and a five-minute washout period between each intervention.
Change in heat pain threshold
Heat pain threshold measured by the TSA Air II device. Temperature ranges from 32 degrees C to 44 degrees C, with higher temperatures indicating a higher heat pain threshold.
Time frame: Duration of intervention, approximately 15 minutes
Change in heat pain sensitivity (HPS)
To evaluate heat pain sensitivity(HPS), participants will complete the Numerical Rating Pain Scale (NRPS) immediately following each trial, where they rank pain sensitivity on an ordinal scale from 0 = no pain to 10 = worst pain possible under both treatment conditions.
Time frame: immediately after intervention
Anxiety Level
participants will complete the Visual Analog Scale for Measuring Anxiety (VAS-A) immediately following each group of levels tests, where they will rank anxiety scores on a sliding scale from 0 = No anxiety/fear to 100 = Worst possible anxiety/fear
Time frame: immediately after intervention
ISO Ergonomic scale
The scale has 6 items. Scores ranges from 1-5 (1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree)
Time frame: immediately after intervention
System Usability Scale (SUS) Score
The scale has 10 items. Scores ranges from 1-5 (1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree)
Time frame: immediately after intervention
Device satisfaction
To evaluate the overall impact of device satisfaction of the spatial audio stimulation device, participants will complete the Patient Technology Satisfaction Survey. Participants will rank each factor on a Likert scale from 1 = not at all to 5 = completely.
Time frame: immediately after intervention
This study is withdrawn, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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