Modulating Neurocognitive Processes of Learning to Trust and Distrust in Aging

This study will apply rtfMRI neurofeedback training as an intervention method, to demonstrate that older adults can be trained in volitional brain activity up-regulation, reducing their trust-learning deficits. The study will comprises several MRI sessions including pre-training, training, and post-training scans.

Inclusion criteria

• Able to provide verbal and written informed consent
• Fluent English speaker
• At least 8th grade education
• On stable medication regimen

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Magnetic resonance imaging contraindications (e.g., certain metallic objects in body, claustrophobia)
• Current major depression defined as scores >14 on the Beck Depression Inventory-II
• Impaired scores on the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS; cut-off of >30)
• Current use of medications with significant anticholinergic properties due to potential influence on memory ("memory enhancing"; e.g., Aricept or Namenda)
• Current use of anticonvulsant, neuroleptic, sedatives, or other medications known to affect cognition
• Uncorrected visual and hearing impairments
• Neurologic conditions affecting the brain (e.g., severe stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury with >30-minute loss of consciousness)
• Impaired scores on a cognitive screening measure, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); for older adults the cutoff will be age and education corrected
• Unstable medical illness (e.g., metastatic cancer)
• Significant cardiovascular conditions (e.g., major heart attack)
• Will not exclude participants who are taking anti-depressant medications. Use of antidepressants (particularly SSRI's) and anxiolytic medications will be recorded and included in post-hoc analyses