USC CALM (Cardiac-Control Affecting Learning through Mindfulness) Study Description
The main purpose of this study is to examine whether and how daily practice of mindful attention to breath influences plasma biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease and the rate at which brains learn new information.
Key Study Details
- Must attend 2 full day in-person campus visits.
- Campus visits will take place on weekdays and participants can expect to be on campus from 9AM-5PM.
- Must complete up to an hour of daily brain games and mindfulness practice for 10 weeks.
What to expect
Duration: 10 weeks
Campus Visits: You will visit campus twice to complete a brain MRI session, cognitive and other assessments, and provide blood samples.
Campus visits will take place on weekdays and participants will be on campus between 9AM-5PM. You will have a one-hour break for lunch.
All lab visits will take place at the USC University Park Campus.
Home Assignments: You will also be asked to complete daily home assignments, which will take approximately 50-60 minutes each day.
Study Timeline: See below for a general study timeline.
Payment: You may earn up to $816 for the study. If you travel from an off-site location, parking will be provided for you.
You may be eligible if you:
- Are between 50-70 years old
- Are African-American or European-American (Black or White)
- Are fluent in English
- Have good heart health (no abnormal cardiac rhythm; heart disease including coronary artery disease, angina, and arrhythmia; dyspnea (difficult or labored breathing)
- Have good cognitive health (i.e. no cognitive impairment)
- Have normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing
- Have reliable access to wifi
- Have an email account you check regularly
- Have a phone that receives text messages
- Do NOT have any metals in your body or conditions (i.e. claustrophobia) that prevent you from completing a brain MRI
- Have NOT regularly played Lumosity games in the past 6 months
- (Females only) Are non-pregnant and postmenopausal (i.e., last menstrual period was a year or more ago)
General Study Timeline
| Week | Task | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campus Visit 1: Surveys, blood draw, physiological measurements, cognitive assessments, brain MRI scan | USC University Park Campus |
| 1-9 | Brain games and mindfulness practice | Home |
| 10 | Campus Visit 2: Same as campus visit 1 | USC University Park Campus |
* The MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) session will be 1.5 hours of the campus visit.
Questions? Contact us at calm@usc.edu or (213) 740-9543.