Modulating Neurocognitive Processes of Learning to Trust and Distrust in Aging

Summary

Much of human interaction is based on trust. Aging has been associated with deficits in trust-related decision making, likely further exacerbated in age-associated neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer's disease/AD), possibly underlying the dramatically growing public health problem of elder fraud. Optimal trust-related decision making and avoiding exploitation require the ability to learn about the trustworthiness of social partners across multiple interactions, but the role that learning plays in determining age deficits in trust decisions is currently unknown.

Aim: Probe the malleability of the underlying neurocircuitry of trust-learning deficits in aging. This study will utilize real-time fMRI neurofeedback to train older adults in brain activity up-regulation toward enhanced trust-related learning in aging and confirm critical mechanisms of experience-dependent social decisions in aging.

Grant R01AG072658 Aim 3: Test the malleability of trust-learning neurocircuitry toward optimized trust-related decision making in aging.

Conditions

• Aging
• Cognitive Change
• Neurocognitive Disorders, Mild

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Contingent rtfMRI neurofeedback training

Contingent rtfMRI neurofeedback training will follow an alternating up-regulation/rest block design with screen-color cues. Visual feedback about real-time brain activity in the ROI will be provided (e.g., via a thermometer bar). During resting blocks, the thermometer bar remains static.

BEHAVIORAL

Non-contingent/sham rtfMRI neurofeedback training

Non-contingent/sham rtfMRI neurofeedback training will follow an alternating up-regulation/rest block design with screen-color cues. Visual feedback about non-contingent/sham brain activity in the ROI will be provided (e.g., via a thermometer bar). During resting blocks, the thermometer bar remains static.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Aging (NIA)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Florida

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Natalie C. Ebner, PhD. · University of Florida

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

100 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-10-08

Primary Completion

2027-04-30

Completion

2027-04-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations