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The present study investigates the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a novel visual arts-based intervention in an older adult population. In a randomized controlled design, two arts-based interventions will be evaluated with a group of 50 participants.
A two-arm randomized controlled study will be conducted to obtain within-group ratings of feasibility and acceptability, as well as between-group differences in drawing skills after training. In the drawing intervention, participants will learn and train drawing skills through exercises that target attention, perception, and visuospatial reasoning. In the active control condition, participants will navigate virtual art galleries. Both interventions will be completed remotely and at home. Participants will complete in-lab assessment sessions before and after the training.
Each intervention consists of 6 weeks of training for up to 2 hours a week, including up to 1 hour of a self-guided lesson and prompted daily drawing practice adding up to 1 hour in the drawing intervention and 2 1-hour sessions of virtual gallery exploring per week in the arts appreciation intervention. The pre-test is administered within one week of the start of training and the post-test is administered within one week of training completion.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participatory Arts | Experimental | Participants will develop drawing skills through learning specific techniques and deliberately engaging cognitive domains such as perception, visuospatial reasoning, attention, and processing speed. The intervention is completed in a hybrid format where lessons are completed online and practice is completed in a sketchbook and drawing things from life. Prompts are provided to guide daily practice sessions. Techniques learned include contour drawing, gesture drawing, negative space drawing. |
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| Receptive Arts | Active Comparator | Participants will learn about different art periods and browse online galleries. The materials will be available online through a website through which participants will access and browse online galleries. Weekly topics include genres, subjects, or specific mediums. Prompts and vocabulary will accompany the galleries to guide their learning. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training in observational drawing | Behavioral |
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptability - clarity | Perceived clarity on the course content, likert scale 1-5 | Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Acceptability - engagement | Level of engagement with the course materials, likert scale 1-5 | Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Acceptability - value | Perceived value of the course content, likert scale 1-5 | Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Feasibility - completion rate | % of participants who completed both testing sessions | Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Feasibility - adherence | % of lessons that participants completed, from 0-6 | Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Feasibility - frequency | Frequency: times a week that participants completed training, 0-7 for days practiced each week | Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Feasibility - attrition | Attrition reason: participants withdrawing will select from one of 5 options or 'other' to record the reason for withdrawing | Throughout training and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Change in Drawing skills |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Perception - contour integration | Participants tap on circles of aligned Gabors embedded in a scene of randomly oriented Gabors. A circle will be present for 3 seconds and switch to the next trial if it is not seen. Number of circles spotted, reaction times on spotted circle, and lowest level of alignment will be recorded. Z-scores will be calculated. | Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Daily progress log | Participants will record the time spent and the content practiced during their sessions. The survey includes selecting all the choices that apply, questions on a likert scale, and short response questions. | After every training session (weeks 1-6 of training, up to 7 times a week) |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mariya Vodyanyk, MA | Contact | 608-628-4820 | vodyanyk.m@northeastern.edu | |
| Audrey Carrillo, MA | Contact | a.carrillo@northeastern.edu |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Susanne Jaeggi, PhD | Northeastern University | Principal Investigator |
| Aaron Seitz, PhD | Northeastern University | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University | Recruiting | Boston | Massachusetts | 02115 | United States |
Intervention materials and individual participant data (anonymized)
Data will be available persistently at the conclusion of the study.
There are no access criteria.
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| Arts engagement through digital galleries | Behavioral |
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Participants will have 5 minutes to draw a photograph. Accuracy is scored using two methods: angle error at defined points of intersection and a rubric assessing accuracy on global and local features. Both ratings are averaged into a composite z-score, as well as looked at separately. |
| Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Change in Perception - visual disembedding | Participants search for a target shape in 3 complex gestalts of overlapping shapes. Participants select the complex shape containing the target. Response times and accuracy are measured. Z-scores will be calculated. | Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Change in Visuospatial Reasoning - construction and memory | Complex Figures Copy and Recall will assess visuospatial construction and memory (10 min). Participants will complete three sets of drawing complex shapes from observation and memory after a block of word learning. Accuracy will be scored using a validated rubric. | Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Change in Visuospatial Reasoning - mental transformation | 3D Mental Rotation (3 min) will test mental transformation. Participants will be briefly shown two figures and asked to determine whether the figures are the same or mirror reversed. Mean and SD reaction time per angular disparity and errors per angular disparity will be extracted. | Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Change in Attention | A Rule switch task will measure set shifting. Participants will sort shapes by color or shape. Performance will be calculated as the response times on accurate switch trials. | Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Change in Mindfulness | Participants complete a version Solloway Mindfulness Survey adapted to drawing. The questionnaire includes 30 questions on a 7-point scale on the degree to which engaging in drawing is related to different aspects of mindful attention. | Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later |
| Change in Mental Wellbeing | Mental Wellbeing is assessed by the WEMWBS, which includes 14 questions on a 5 point scale about positive mental wellbeing. | Pre-test (baseline) and post-test 6-8 weeks later |