Virtual reality and sound therapy may shield your brain during heart surgery

NCT ID NCT05036538

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: Heart and Brain Research Group, Germany Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tests whether relaxing before heart surgery using virtual reality nature scenes or special sound patterns (binaural beats) can reduce stress and prevent problems like confusion or memory loss after the operation. About 125 adults having planned heart surgery will be randomly assigned to one of three relaxation methods or standard care. The goal is to see if these simple, non-drug approaches can protect mental function after a major procedure.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: virtual reality and binaural beats
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to lower the risk of confusion and memory problems after heart surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial (125 people) testing a relaxation technique, not a proven treatment. The effect on preventing delirium may be small or not work at all.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for POSTOPERATIVE COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Emergence Delirium Postoperative Cognitive Complications

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

POSTOPERATIVE COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION POSTOPERATIVE DELIRIUM PREOPERATIVE STRESS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Kerckhoff Heart Center, Heart and Brain Research Group
RECRUITING

Bad Nauheim, Hesse, 61231, Germany

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.