Body and brain responses to multisensory food cues in virtual reality

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The study will expose 34 healthy university students to real food, visual-only virtual food, and multisensory virtual reality food cues while measuring self-reported craving and objective markers including salivary composition (alpha-amylase), blood glucose, EEG activity, and body temperature. Sessions compare responses across real, virtual, and enriched multisensory VR conditions to determine how sensory enrichment alters craving and physiological arousal. Researchers will use these combined subjective and biological measures to identify whether multisensory VR produces stronger or different responses than real or visual-only cues. The planned recruitment and data collection run from November 2025 to March 2026 with a possible extension to September 2026.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Being over 18 years of age.
* Individuals with a normal Body Mass Index according to the WHO classification.
* No known food allergies or eating disorder diagnoses.
* Voluntarily agree to participate in the study and sign an informed consent form.
* Be physically and psychologically suitable for virtual reality environment and electroencephalography (EEG) recording applications.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of any neurological disease (e.g., epilepsy, vertigo) that may prevent the use of virtual reality goggles
* Allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity to foods used in the experimental procedure (e.g., chocolate biscuits, pickles)
* Significant loss or impairment of vision, hearing, or sense of smell.
* Sensitivity to the use of virtual reality devices (e.g. history of cyber sickness such as nausea, dizziness, etc.)
* Use of psychiatric medication, antidepressants, neuroleptics, or medication that may affect neurological status
* History of psychological conditions that may affect the working process, such as attention deficit, anxiety disorder, or panic attacks.
* Any discomfort in the salivary glands, insufficient saliva production, or dry mouth.
* Consumption of more than 21 units of alcohol per week (as this may affect food cravings and physiological parameters).
* History or diagnosis of abnormal brain electrical activity that may affect EEG measurements.
* History of substance dependence or any mental disorder that may affect cortical activity.
* Conditions that prevent body composition analysis (BIA) measurements (e.g. use of a pacemaker, limb amputation, lymphoedema, etc.).
* The presence of any language or cognitive barrier that prevents communication.

Where it's running

• Marmara University, Faculty of Health Sciences
  Istanbul, Maltepe, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Zehra M Çelik, PhD
• Email: zmcelik@yahoo.com
• Phone: +905327070972

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.