Study on Age-related Distractibility and the Locus Coeruleus
This study is looking for 200 healthy adults, aged 18 to 75, to understand how aging affects our ability to focus and ignore distractions. Researchers believe that a part of the brain called the locus coeruleus (LC) and its connection to another brain network might play a role in why older adults sometimes struggle with ignoring distractions. You would participate in a tablet-based program that includes attention practice tasks like the Flanker Task, Stroop Task, and Visual Tracking Task, or a tablet-based selective attention/distraction task. The study will measure changes in your accuracy on a selective attention task and changes in brain connectivity using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) after two weeks of practice. The current recruitment status is unclear.
- Study design
- This is an interventional study planning to enroll 200 healthy adult participants.
- What's involved
- You would use a tablet-based program for attention practice or a selective attention/distraction task. Your brain activity would be measured with fMRI before and after two weeks of practice.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Your progress will be measured after two weeks of attentional practice.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
The Role of the Locus Coeruleus in Age-related Distractibility
At a glance
Conditions
Where it's being run
1 sites across 1 statesStudy leadership
- Tae-Ho Lee, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Who to contact
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What this trial measures
- Change in accuracy on the place-face selective attention task after two weeksScan before and after attentional practice (2 weeks between scans)
During this task, participants will be presented to with target place stimuli overlaid on nonexpressive faces) and be asked to identify categories of place images ('building' to 'house') selectively as soon as possible while ignoring overlapped faces. The investigators will also include place only images to measure participants' baseline neural activation when there is no distractor. Each image condition will be presented in a mixed event related design that includes 15 blocks for each condition as a function of image type (overlaid vs. place-only). The block order will be counterbalanced and each block will be separated by a 10-s blank screen.
- Change in fMRI LC-SN connectivity after two weeksScan before and after attentional practice (2 weeks between scans)
An fMRI measure of LC-SN connectivity