Effect of Instrumental Lo-Fi Music on Stroop Interference Performance in University Students

NCT07598877 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CUD-LO-FI -20
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 72
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the effects of instrumental lo-fi background music compared to silence on cognitive interference performance among university students. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a lo-fi music condition or a silent condition while completing a paper-based Stroop Color-Word task. The main outcome will be the level of cognitive interference, measured by the number of correct responses during the interference condition. The study seeks to determine whether background music improves or impairs selective attention and cognitive control.

Conditions

Cognitive Interference and Selective Attention

Keywords

Stroop Task; Lo-fi Music; Cognitive Performance; Selective Attention; Background Music

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Stroop Interference Score

  The Stroop interference score will be calculated as the difference between correct responses in the Color Naming and Color-Word Interference conditions. Higher scores indicate greater cognitive interference (poorer inhibitory control).

  During task completion (single session; approximately 5-7 minutes), participants complete the Stroop Color-Word Task under their assigned condition.

Study Arms (2)

Lo-Fi Music

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants listen to instrumental lo-fi background music while performing the Stroop task.

Behavioral: Instrumental Lo-Fi Music

Silence

NO INTERVENTION

Participants perform the Stroop task in silence without any background music.

Interventions

Instrumental Lo-Fi Music BEHAVIORAL

Participants listen to instrumental lo-fi background music through headphones while completing the Stroop color-word task under controlled conditions.

Lo-Fi Music

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 24 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Aged between 18 and 24 years (verified via self-report at screening)
• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at Canadian University Dubai
• Self-reported proficiency in English sufficient to understand task instructions and perform colour-naming responses
• Self-reported normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• Self-reported normal hearing

You may not qualify if:

• Any form of colour vision deficiency (e.g., red-green colour blindness)
• A diagnosis of a neurological or psychological condition known to affect cognitive performance (e.g., ADHD, major depressive disorder, or learning disabilities), based on self-report
• Current use of prescribed medication that may affect cognitive functioning, based on self-report

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Canadian University Dubai: lead

Study Sites (1)

CUD

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Stroop, J. R. (1935). Studies of Interference in Serial Verbal Reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18(6), 643-662. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054651

  RESULT

Study Officials

• Efthymios Papatzikis, PhD

  Canadian University Duba

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Shahad Yousif, BSc Psychology

  Canadian University Dubai

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• farah Mosalami, BSc Psychology

  Canadian University Dubai

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Efthymios Papatzikis, PhD

CONTACT

+971 4 709 6000; E.Papatzikis@cud.ac.ae

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to either a lo-fi music condition or a silence condition during the Stroop task.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2026
• First Posted: May 20, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

AE (1)