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Emerging evidence from social neuroscience suggests that prefrontal cortex (PFC), insular and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) regulate social and emotional responses to acute threats to social connectedness among young adults. Deficient neural reserve or overused neural compensation resulting from neurodegeneration is commonly observed in these frontal regions in old age. This aging-related "neural depletion" may have implications for how older adults respond to social threats, potentially increasing maladaptive emotional and social behavioral responses, such as social anxiety and social avoidance, which contribute to social disconnectedness. The central hypothesis is that cognitive deficits and associated aging-related 'neural depletion' in the frontal regions will contribute to maladaptive social-emotional responses to a social stressor -- social exclusion. Ultimately, maladaptive responses to acute social stress, such as social anxiety and avoidance, can compromise social connectedness by increasing social strain and isolation. The investigators have recently developed a neuroplasticity-based cognitive training program, called vision-based speed of processing (VSOP) training, targeting multiple aspects of cognitive capacity (e.g., attention, working memory and inhibition) and incorporating the speed component to improve the efficiency of these cognitive processes. VSOP training also targets several neural networks seeded in ACC and insular (default mode network) or PFC (the frontal-striatal network and central executive network). These networks also overlap with neural substrates of emotion regulation. Notably, VSOP training appears to improve emotion regulation, as depressive symptoms were reduced in older adults following VSOP training. Finally, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), critical to stress adaptation, is regulated by these frontal regions. The objective of the proposed pilot study is to provide proof-of-concept for the hypothesis that improvements in older adults' cognitive capacity, frontal regions' neural efficiency, and ANS function via the VSOP training will be associated with more adaptive social-emotional response to social exclusion, which, in turn, should confer longer-term protection for older adults' sense of social connectedness. Randomized Controlled Trial Design: 30 older adults will be randomly assigned to engage in 6-week VSOP training, or to an active control group. Differential changes from baseline to post-training in cognitive capacity, neural efficiency, and ANS function, and sense of social connectedness, will be compared between VSOP control groups. A social exclusion paradigm ('cyberball' task) will be conducted post-training to evaluate VSOP training effects on social-emotional responses to social exclusion, including anxiety and motivation for social affiliation.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| vision-based speed of processing (VSOP) cognitive training | Experimental | use the INSIGHT online program (Posit Science), which includes five training paradigms (Eye for detail, Peripheral challenge, Visual sweep, Double decision, Target tracker) that practice processing speed and attention. All exercises share visual components and focus on accuracy and fast reaction times. Participants respond either by identifying what object they see or where they see it on the screen. The training will automatically adjust the difficulty of each task based on the participant's performance, ensuring that the participants always operate near their optimal capacity. The training programs will automatically record the percentage of completion of each game and scores. |
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| active control | Active Comparator | The standardized computerized leisure activities program - MLA, including crossword puzzle, Sudoku, etc. will be used |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VSOP training | Behavioral | a computerized cognitive training of attention and processing speed |
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| cognitive capacity | change of executive function from baseline to 7 week post-training | baseline and 7 week post-training |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| brain function 1 (BOLD fMRI) | brain functional change in response to social scenario task from baseline to 7 week post-training | baseline and 7 week post-training |
| social well-being | change of social well-being measured by HARP Social Connectedness and Well-Being Core Battery from baseline to 7 week |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Anne Corriveau | University of Rochester | Study Director |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Northfield | Fairport | New York | 14450 | United States | ||
| The Highlands |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D012934 | Social Isolation |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D012919 | Social Behavior |
| D001519 | Behavior |
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6-week cognitive training group vs. an active control group
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Participants will not be informed whether it is an intervention or control group; instead they will be informed they will receive a computerized cognitive intervention.
| MLA control | Behavioral | a computerized cognitive intervention of multiple mental leisure activities |
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| baseline and 7 week post-training |
| brain function 2 (BOLD fMRI) | brain functional adaptability to cyberball task | 7 week post-training only |
| Pittsford |
| New York |
| 14534 |
| United States |
| River Edge Manor | Rochester | New York | 14620 | United States |
| St. Johns Meadows | Rochester | New York | 14620 | United States |