Following the Sound of Music
Remote | Ages 60+
Help Advance Research on Music and Cognition
Music is a common part of everyday life, but researchers are still learning how listening to and training with music may relate to cognitive abilities such as attention and memory. Researchers at the Brain Game Center at Northeastern University are studying how music listening, training, and individual differences may influence cognition.
By participating, you’ll help researchers better understand how different types of activities may affect cognitive performance and how individual differences may influence the benefits of training. This research study examines how music listening and training may influence cognitive performance.
About the Study
This is a fully remote study that involves completing questionnaires and computerized tasks that challenge skills such as perception, memory, attention, and decision-making. Some participants will also complete a training program between assessment sessions.
Participants are randomly assigned to one of several study conditions. Depending on your assigned condition, you may complete training activities, other activities that are not expected to affect the study’s assessments, or no activities between assessment sessions.
The study takes place over approximately 2–3 months. Study activities may be completed remotely or in the lab, depending on the session.
Eligibility
You may be eligible if you…
- Are 60+ years old
- vAre fluent in English
- Have not received more than 2 years of formal musical training during your childhood OR in the past 20 years
- Have no known neurological impairments
- Currently live in the US
What to Expect
If you’re eligible and choose to participate, you will first complete assessment sessions involving questionnaires and computerized cognitive tasks. All study materials will be provided by our lab. Upon study completion, you will be asked to return them by either returning them in-person or using a shipping label provided by our lab.
During the study, participants will complete:
- Questionnaires about topics such as demographics, personality, habits, health, and well-being
- Computerized tasks involving visual and auditory information
- Tasks that measure memory and attention
- Activities that challenge perceptual and decision-making skills
- Responses using a tablet or other computer-based device
Some participants will also complete a training program. Training sessions involve a cognitive training game and are designed to be completed independently.
Some sessions may be conducted over Zoom or by phone, while others will be done independently.
Assignment to study conditions is random, and participants cannot choose which condition they are assigned to.
Study Timeline
The study takes place over approximately 2–3 months.
Depending on your assigned condition, participation may include:
- 8 assessment sessions, lasting up to 60 minutes each
- 40 training sessions, lasting up to 20 minutes each, if assigned to an active condition
- A follow-up assessment approximately 2 months after training is complete
Training sessions can be completed at a pace of 3-5 sessions a week, and up to 2 sessions per a day.
Compensation
Participants are compensated $80-220 hour of scheduled participation via Amazon gift card. Compensation is provided after completing the post-test procedures and again after the follow-up assessment.
If you withdraw before completing the study, your compensation will be prorated for the time you have completed.
Interested in Participating or Learning More?
Fill out our interest form below, and we will be in touch!