Effect of Cardiac Feedback on Cognition

What is this Study about?

The purpose of this study is to see how signals from the body, and awareness of those signals, influence cognition in healthy aging and amnestic mild cognitive impairment. The data used from this study will be used for scientific publications and conference presentations. Participants will also be asked if they are willing to have their deidentified data shared for the benefit of open science.

What Will Happen in This Study?

Session 1 involves paper-and-pencil tests of your thinking abilities, lasting about 90 minutes. Session 2 (about 1 hour) involves a computerized visual test. Electrocardiogram electrodes placed on your chest will measure heart activity, a respiratory belt placed on your upper chest will measure breathing, a sensor on your finger will monitor pulse, and electrodes on the palm of your hand will measure skin conductance. These first two sessions can be combined into one if you prefer. Session 3: Some participants will be invited back for a 30-minute MRI session.

Who is Eligible to Participate in this Study?

You are eligible to participate if you are between the ages of 60-85, are free from major medical, neurological, or psychiatric conditions affecting cognition or cardiac health, are fluent in English, and have normal or corrected-to-normal vision.

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