Aims:
The Aging Minds Project seeks to investigate how music-based activities (choir singing and group music listening) affect hearing skills, cognitive abilities, and social wellbeing in older adults.
What does participating in this study entail?
- Interest form: You will be asked a few questions about your health history and music training to determine if you may be eligible for this study.
- Zoom screening: If you may be eligible, we will schedule a brief zoom screening session to determine final eligibility for the study. During this session, you will be asked about your general health history and previous music background. You will then complete a short cognitive assessment that will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
- Pre-Intervention Surveys and Lab Visit: Once you are enrolled, you will complete a few surveys on your own at home designed to evaluate your health status, cognitive functions, and emotional well-being. You will then be scheduled for a two-hour visit to the lab. During this visit, you will complete a few short surveys, a hearing test, and an EEG (electroencephalogram). An EEG is a noninvasive procedure in which your brain waves will be recorded via electrodes attached to your scalp.
- Intervention: You will be randomly assigned to either a choir singing or a music listening group. Each group will meet once per week for two hours at the Brain and Creativity Institute on the USC campus for a total of 20 weeks.
- Post-Intervention Surveys and Lab Visit: After the 20 weeks is complete, you will return to the lab to complete the same surveys, hearing test, and EEG again. You will also be asked to complete the same at-home surveys one more time.
What do the weekly group activities entail?
Both groups will meet once per week for two hours for a total of 16 weeks. Group activities will take place at the Brain and Creativity Institute on the USC campus. The weekly activities are led by accomplished teaching artists from the USC Thornton School of Music and provided completely free of charge.
If you are assigned to the choir singing group, you will participate in a choir rehearsal. During these rehearsals, you will learn new musical repertoire, singing technique, and participate in both large and small group sessions where you will learn to sing together. You will also be asked to complete a few activities to practice at home, which should take approximately 1.5 hours per week.
If you are assigned to the music listening group, you will participate in a group discussion, similar to a book club. During the sessions, you will listen to music together and have the opportunity to participate in both large and small group discussions about the music. You will be assigned a new set of music to listen to at home each week in preparation for the next discussion group.
Study Timeline
First surveys and lab visits will occur shortly after your enrollment, during July or August. The weekly group activities will meet once per week for 20 weeks from mid September– February, with breaks for the holidays. Your last surveys and lab visit will take place after the completion of the group activities in February or March.