NCT05645835

Dynamic Neural Systems Underlying Social-emotional Functions in Older Adults

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 75 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years – 120 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Assess the impact of a remote, app-delivered digital meditation intervention on emotional well-being of lonely older adults. Neuroimaging, electrophysiological (EEG), and autonomic physiology will be used to assess the neural correlates of the intervention. EEG and autonomic physiology will be collected while participants watch 30 min of an awe-inspiring movie. fMRI and autonomic physiology will be collected in the context of a social exploration/exploitation task.

Conditions

• Loneliness
• Older Adults
• fMRI
• Emotions
• EEG
• Digital Intervention
• Meditation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	intervention	the digital meditation app will be installed on participants iPad or android. Lonely older adults will use the app five days a week for six weeks total. Neuroimaging will be performed before and after the intervention.
BEHAVIORAL	waitlist control	Participants in the waitlist group will have to wait six weeks after being screened before being able to use the meditation app after the assessment of primary and secondary endpoints
OTHER	No Interventions	No intervention. Only baseline fMRI and EEG assessment.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-10-13
• Primary completion: 2025-12-28
• Completion: 2026-07-01
• First posted: 2022-12-12
• Last updated: 2025-12-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States