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Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of piano training on cognitive and psychosocial outcomes
Author(s) -
Bugos Jennifer
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/nyas.13663
Subject(s) - cognitive training , randomized controlled trial , psychosocial , cognition , psychology , psychological intervention , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , surgery
Age‐related cognitive decline and cognitive impairment represent the fastest growing health epidemic worldwide among those over 60. There is a critical need to identify effective and novel complex cognitive interventions to promote successful aging. Since piano training engages cognitive and bimanual sensorimotor processing, we hypothesize that piano training may serve as an effective cognitive intervention, as it requires sustained attention and engages an executive network that supports generalized cognition and emotional control. Here, I describe the protocol of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the impact of piano training on cognitive performance in adulthood, a period associated with decreased neuroplasticity. In this cluster RCT, healthy older adults (age 60–80) were recruited and screened to control for confounding variables. Eligible participants completed an initial 3‐h assessment of standardized cognitive and psychosocial measures. Participants were stratified by age, education, and estimate of intelligence and randomly assigned to one of three groups: piano training, computer brain training, or a no‐treatment control group. Computer brain training consisted of progressively difficult auditory cognitive exercises (Brain HQ; Posit Science, 2010). Participants assigned to training groups completed a 16‐week program that met twice a week for 90 minutes. Upon program completion and at a 3‐month follow‐up, training participants and no‐treatment controls completed a posttest visit lasting 2.5 hours.