Effects of a listening program of personally meaningful music on cognition: An EEG study

What is this Study about?

  1. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of a 2-week at-home music listening period of personally meaningful music (20 mins/day) on changes in brainwave activity and memory, in people with mild cognitive impairment. This music should be meaningful to you and associated to your personal memories, such that when you listen to them, they make you think of a particular person, place, experience, or time period (i.e., the song you danced to at your wedding).
  2. Information gathered will be submitted for publication in academic research journals and will form part of the researcher's doctoral work.

What Will Happen in This Study?

Before Visit 1: Provide titles of 15 English vocal songs associated to your memories.

Visit 1 (Baycrest): Complete questionnaires and auditory tasks. During some of these tasks, we will record your brain activity via electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive technique. You’ll receive an online link to your music playlist and a log.

At home: Listen to your playlist (20 mins/day) for two weeks and log your habits.

Visit 2 (Baycrest): Repeat procedures from Visit 1.

Each lab visit is ~3 hours, with a two-week listening period at home. You’ll receive $15/hr compensation and travel expenses for your time at the lab.

Who is Eligible to Participate in this Study?

- are 60 years of age and over

- have received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment

- are English speaking

- have a minimum of high school education

- have adequate hearing and vision

- can identify 15 English vocal/lyrical songs that are associated to your personal memories

- can commit to listening to your personal playlist (20 mins) at-home for 2 weeks (minimum 5 days/week)

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