Adaptive Music Therapy for Psychosocial and Cognitive Functions of Older Adults

Summary

The proposed study is a pilot study that aims to understand if the Pi Electronics adaptive music intervention (AM) is effective to promote positive psychosocial and cognitive outcomes, over and above a traditional music intervention (TM) among healthy older adults. This study will contribute to the ongoing literature on the benefits of music interventions and provide insight on how emerging technology can enhance the therapeutic effects of music as a viable intervention for older adults.

The study will adopt a three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT). Eligible participants will be randomized into one of three groups: traditional music therapy group (TM), Pi Electronic's adaptive music program (AM), and a waitlist control group (CG). Informed consent will be collected from all participants. All three groups will complete outcome measures at three sessions: pretest, posttest, and at a three-month follow-up, but only the TM and AM group will receive music between the pretest and posttest sessions, spanning for 4 weeks, with 4 music therapy sessions per week, and each session lasting 30 minutes.

Data will be analyzed for each outcome variables to understand the group differences in the performance on the psychosocial and cognitive outcome measures. The study will also validate the Pi Electronics EEG headset with the BioSemi, 64-channel EEG system.

Conditions

• Stress, Psychological
• Executive Functions
• Loneliness
• Emotion Regulation
• Functional Abilities
• Well Being

Interventions

OTHER

Adaptive Music Intervention

Music that has been enhanced by frequencies that are associated with positive feelings as measured by EEG data. Music will be delivered through the Pi Electronic Inc.'s Venus Speaker that aims to promote psychosocial and cognitive functioning over and above traditional music therapy.

OTHER

Traditional Music Intervention

Music that has not been enhanced by frequencies. Music is delivered through the Pi Electronic Inc.'s Venus Speaker that aims to promote psychosocial and cognitive functioning.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mitacs

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Toronto Metropolitan University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kathryn Bolton, BA. hons · Toronto Metropolitan University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-12-01

Primary Completion

2025-11-07

Completion

2026-11-15

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations