Active ControlNCT07102953
Mindfulness on Creativity
A study testing Focused-attention meditation and Open-monitoring meditation in people with Active Control and Focused-attention Meditatioin, run by Zhejiang University at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
Purpose of the Study This clinical trial aims to find out whether a 5-day mindfulness training program can help improve creativity in academic researchers. The study focuses on answering these key questions: Can focused-attention (FA) and open-monitoring (OM) meditation boost creativity in academic researchers? Do FA… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Active Control, Focused-attention Meditatioin, Open-monitoring Meditation
- What is being tested?
- Focused-attention meditation and Open-monitoring meditation
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 112 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 19 May 2025to 28 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Currently enrolled graduate students (Master's or PhD) or other research personnel (e.g., postdoctoral fellows, research assistants, or academic researchers).
- Aged 18 years or older and under 65 years.
- No current diagnosis of severe mental disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder).
- Not currently taking mood-stabilizing medication (e.g., SSRIs), to avoid confounding effects on mindfulness training and EEG outcomes
Who cannot join
- Simultaneously participating in other mindfulness-based psychological intervention programs or courses that cannot be paused during the study period.
- Suicidal ideation or planning reported within the past two weeks.
- Inability to attend in-person assessments at the laboratory site.
- Refusal or inability to provide informed consent.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Focused Attention and Open Monitoring Meditation on Creativity in Scientific Researchers
Purpose of the Study
This clinical trial aims to find out whether a 5-day mindfulness training program can help improve creativity in academic researchers. The study focuses on answering these key questions:
Read more
Can focused-attention (FA) and open-monitoring (OM) meditation boost creativity in academic researchers?
Do FA and OM meditation have different effects on creativity?
How does the training affect brain activity (measured by electrical signals)?
Researchers will compare the effects of FA and OM meditation with a control group that listens to audio recordings, to see which method-if any-helps improve creativity.
What Participants Will Do
Join one of three groups: FA meditation, OM meditation, or audio listening (control), and take part in daily practice for 5 days.
Come to the research center for testing three times.
Keep a daily log of how they engage with the training.
- Being tested
- Focused-attention meditation, Open-monitoring meditation, Audio-listening control
- Keywords
- dismantling mindfulenss, focused-attention, open-monitoring, creativity, EEG
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Focused-attention meditationBehavioural
This is a type of mindfulenss meditation, which instructes participants to keep focusing on own breathing with a sitting and rest posture.
Open-monitoring meditationBehavioural
This is a type of mindfulenss meditation, which instructs participants to stay aware of their vision with a sitting and rest posture.
Audio-listening controlBehavioural
Participants listen to stories about creativity with a sitting and rest posture.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Focused-attention group | Experimental | Focused-attention training Receives: Behavioral: Focused-attention meditation |
| Open-monitoring group | Experimental | Open-monitoring training Receives: Behavioral: Open-monitoring meditation |
| Control group | Active comparator | Listen to stories about creativity Receives: Behavioral: Audio-listening control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Divergent thinking
Divergent thinking, a key component of creativity, will be assessed using the Alternative Uses Task (AUT). In this test, participants are asked to think of as many different uses as possible for a common object-like a brick, knife, or pillow-within a limited time. The scores including three factors: fluency, flexibility, and originality, which will be gained via TranDis, a semantic distance scoring system based on transformer-based language models.
Measured: Pre- and post- assessments after a 15-min training at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Convergent thinking
Convergent thinking, a key component of creativity, will be measured by the Remote Associate Test (RAT). In this test, participants are given three words and must identify a fourth word that links all three.
Measured: Pre- and post- assessments after a 15-min training at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
EEG
Quantitative EEG power spectral density (PSD) across frequency bands (delta: 0.5-4 Hz, theta: 4-8 Hz, alpha: 8-13 Hz, beta: 13-30 Hz, gamma: >30 Hz) will be measured at Day 7 (post-intervention). Absolute and relative power in each band will be extracted from resting-state EEG (eyes closed), task-state EEG (15-min mindfulness or control), and task-state EEG during creativity tests, recorded at standardized scalp locations. Changes in spectral power will be used as indicators of neurophysiological responses to the mindfulness training.
Measured: During the whole tests at Day7 (after 5-day practice)
Secondary outcomes (5)
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is assessed using the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale (PHLMS). The PHLMS is a 20-item scale with two factors named Awareness and Acceptance. Participants will rate on a 5-point scale (1 = never, 5 = very often) according to the frequency that they experienced the described item within the past week. The score range for the PHLMS is 20 to 100.
Measured: Assessments at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Metacognition
Cognitive Self-Consciousness (CSC), a subscale of the Metacognition Questionnaire (MCQ), will be used to assess participants' tendency to monitor and reflect upon their own thinking processes. The subscale includes 6 items. Participants rate statements such as "I am constantly aware of the way my mind works" on a 4-point scale (1 = do not agree, 5 = agree very much). The score range is 6 to 30.
Measured: At Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Attention
Sustained attention will be measured using the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART). The SART is a computerized test for the measurement of sustained attention and response inhibition. Participants' performance will be evaluated by the time of response and the correct rate.
Measured: Assessments at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice).
Depression
Depression will be assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is a 4-point scale (0 = Not at all, 3 = Nearly every day) with 9 items. The score range is 0 to 27.
Measured: Assessments at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Anxiety
Anxiety will be measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scle (GAD-7). It is a 4-point scale (0 = Not at all, 3 = Nearly every day) with 7 items. The score range is 0 to 21.
Measured: Pre- and post- assessments after a 15-min training at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Aug 2025
- Study start19 May 2025
- Primary completion12 Sep 2025
- Study completion28 Oct 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Active ControlStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 112 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Zhejiang University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Westlake University, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Shulin Chen, Zhejiang University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07102953
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20250401LR001
- Other IDs
- WU2024A001
- Status last verified
- Mar 2025
- First submitted
- 30 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 1 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The following de-identified individual participant data will be shared: demographic information, assessment scores, and time points of data collection. No personally identifiable information will be included.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Focused Attention and Open Monitoring Meditation on Creativity in Scientific Researchers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07102953
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 20250401LR001
- Keywords
- dismantling mindfulenss, focused-attention, open-monitoring, creativity, EEG
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 112 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Zhejiang UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Westlake University, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Study start
- 19 May 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 28 Oct 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Purpose of the Study
This clinical trial aims to find out whether a 5-day mindfulness training program can help improve creativity in academic researchers. The study focuses on answering these key questions:
Can focused-attention (FA) and open-monitoring (OM) meditation boost creativity in academic researchers?
Do FA and OM meditation have different effects on creativity?
How does the training affect brain activity (measured by electrical signals)?
Researchers will compare the effects of FA and OM meditation with a control group that listens to audio recordings, to see which method-if any-helps improve creativity.
What Participants Will Do
Join one of three groups: FA meditation, OM meditation, or audio listening (control), and take part in daily practice for 5 days.
Come to the research center for testing three times.
Keep a daily log of how they engage with the training.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Focused-attention group | Experimental | Behavioral: Focused-attention meditationFocused-attention training |
| Open-monitoring group | Experimental | Behavioral: Open-monitoring meditationOpen-monitoring training |
| Control group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Audio-listening controlListen to stories about creativity |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Currently enrolled graduate students (Master's or PhD) or other research personnel (e.g., postdoctoral fellows, research assistants, or academic researchers).
- Aged 18 years or older and under 65 years.
- No current diagnosis of severe mental disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder).
- Not currently taking mood-stabilizing medication (e.g., SSRIs), to avoid confounding effects on mindfulness training and EEG outcomes
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Simultaneously participating in other mindfulness-based psychological intervention programs or courses that cannot be paused during the study period.
- Suicidal ideation or planning reported within the past two weeks.
- Inability to attend in-person assessments at the laboratory site.
- Refusal or inability to provide informed consent.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Focused-attention meditationThis is a type of mindfulenss meditation, which instructes participants to keep focusing on own breathing with a sitting and rest posture. | Behavioural | Focused-attention group |
| Open-monitoring meditationThis is a type of mindfulenss meditation, which instructs participants to stay aware of their vision with a sitting and rest posture. | Behavioural | Open-monitoring group |
| Audio-listening controlParticipants listen to stories about creativity with a sitting and rest posture. | Behavioural | Control group |
Primary outcome
Divergent thinking
Time frame: Pre- and post- assessments after a 15-min training at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Divergent thinking, a key component of creativity, will be assessed using the Alternative Uses Task (AUT). In this test, participants are asked to think of as many different uses as possible for a common object-like a brick, knife, or pillow-within a limited time. The scores including three factors: fluency, flexibility, and originality, which will be gained via TranDis, a semantic distance scoring system based on transformer-based language models.
Convergent thinking
Time frame: Pre- and post- assessments after a 15-min training at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Convergent thinking, a key component of creativity, will be measured by the Remote Associate Test (RAT). In this test, participants are given three words and must identify a fourth word that links all three.
EEG
Time frame: During the whole tests at Day7 (after 5-day practice)
Quantitative EEG power spectral density (PSD) across frequency bands (delta: 0.5-4 Hz, theta: 4-8 Hz, alpha: 8-13 Hz, beta: 13-30 Hz, gamma: >30 Hz) will be measured at Day 7 (post-intervention). Absolute and relative power in each band will be extracted from resting-state EEG (eyes closed), task-state EEG (15-min mindfulness or control), and task-state EEG during creativity tests, recorded at standardized scalp locations. Changes in spectral power will be used as indicators of neurophysiological responses to the mindfulness training.
5 secondary outcomes
Mindfulness
Time frame: Assessments at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Metacognition
Time frame: At Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Attention
Time frame: Assessments at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice).
Depression
Time frame: Assessments at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Anxiety
Time frame: Pre- and post- assessments after a 15-min training at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The following de-identified individual participant data will be shared: demographic information, assessment scores, and time points of data collection. No personally identifiable information will be included.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Focused-attention meditation and Open-monitoring meditation in people with Active Control and Focused-attention Meditatioin, run by Zhejiang University at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Divergent thinking (time frame: Pre- and post- assessments after a 15-min training at Day1 (before 5-day practice), Day7 (after 5-day practice), and follow-up (1 month after 5-day practice).). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Jul 2026.