Friendly chatbot aims to spark joy in emotionally numb students
NCT ID NCT07671131
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a chatbot that uses motivational interviewing can help college students with anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure) feel more emotional arousal. Eighty participants will interact with the chatbot or a control version, and their brain activity will be scanned with fMRI while watching emotional videos. The goal is to see if the chatbot can boost emotional responses and engagement.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Motivational Interviewing chatbot
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a low-cost, accessible digital tool to help people with anhedonia experience more pleasure and engagement in daily life.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study in healthy college students, so results may not apply to broader populations. The intervention is brief and effects may be small or short-lived.
Disclaimer
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
RECRUITINGChengdu, Sichuan, China
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••