This is a longitudinal study, following a test-retest approach in three stages:
1) Stage I: 33 young and 37 older adults performed an exhaustive neuropsychological assessment and an EEG recording. The neuropsychological assessment targeted different cognitive processes, such as attention and memory. EEG activity was recorded in order to identify the underlying neural networks. The EEG experimental protocol (Fig. 4) included a resting state scan (RS1), a task-related scan (a memory task) and second resting state scan (RS2). RS1 and RS2 consisted on a 5-minute EEG recording, each, while participants fixated their eyes on a cross, without performing any explicit task. Task-related EEG scans here refer to a memory task participants performed while EEG activity was recorded
Remarkably, after completion of Stage I, Dr. Solesio-Jofre undertook an international secondment at University of Gent (Belgium) in order to learn the most innovative methods for EEG data analysis.
2) Stage II: Training programme on positive emotions (The Integrative Positive Psychological Intervention, IPPI). Young and older participants were randomly assigned to four different experimental groups, with approximately fifteen participants each: half of young and older participants performed the training programme and the other half were the control group. In this regard, the latter were assigned to the “Waiting list”, meaning that they performed the training programme after experiment completion. The IPPI is an innovative protocol composed of empirically-validated positive interventions that have been shown to be effective in increasing well-being. It was performed in 10 weekly sessions of 2 hours each, in a group format. Sessions were thematically sequenced to facilitate the experience and generation of positive emotions as early as possible in the program, including exercices of positive relationships, compassion, personal strengths, meaning in life, personal goals and resilience
3) Stage III The same sample of young and older individuals underwent this second assessment session, with the same structure as Stage I. We employed the same neuropsychological and EEG protocol as in Stage I in order to examine age-related differences in behavioural performance, as well as the underlying neural correlates, as a result of the IPPI
We are currently performing EEG data analysis on the RS scans and we have recently published our first results in a high impact journal. In this regard, we have observed EEG power increases in the resting brain after cognitive practice in young individuals, whereas older individuals show a more invariant pattern (Fig 5). This suggest that neuroplasticity, after short-term cognitive practice, is more evident in young individuals than in their older counterparts. Importantly, we are running our analyses with very innovative machine learning tools and we have been recently able to classify between young and older individuals. This has very important implications, indicating that EEG brain oscillations during rest can be used as a predictive tool to identify brain-related changes that occur with age.
Durgin the project life, we have placed special emphasis on dissemination, including ten outreach activities, such as the “European Researchers’ Night” and “Falling Walls Lab Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions” in Brussels (Belgium, Sep 0217). Additionally, we have participated in eight international conferences, for example: The 5th International Conference Aging & Cognition (Apr 2019, Switzerland) and the 47th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (Nov 2017, USA).
