Enhancing Attention in Elderly Using a Brain-Computer-Interface

June 5, 2026 updated by: Jose del R. Millan, University of Texas at Austin

Building Cognitive Reserve Through Brain-Computer-Interfaces

Cognitive reserve refers to the brain's ability to maintain cognitive performance despite age-related changes or neuropathology. Enhancing cognitive reserve is thought to delay cognitive decline and improve functional outcomes in aging and neurodegenerative conditions. Attention and memory-related neural processes are considered key contributors to cognitive reserve, yet it remains unclear whether these neural markers can be deliberately strengthened through targeted training and non-invasive interventions.

The goal of this clinical study is to investigate whether mindfulness-based meditation and non-invasive brain stimulation can enhance neural markers of attention and memory that serve as proxies for cognitive reserve in cognitively healthy adults and older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Investigators hypothesize that strengthening these neural markers will lead to measurable improvements in cognitive reserve-related functions in both healthy aging and MCI populations.

This study further hypothesizes that neural markers of attention can be selectively enhanced using an electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) combined with non-invasive interventions such as mindfulness-based relaxation or neuromodulation. During the study, participants will perform a computerized memory task while their EEG signals are recorded in real time. A BCI will analyze these signals to decode the presence or absence of the P300 event-related potential, a well-established neural marker of attentional control and cognitive resource allocation. Real-time feedback and intervention will be used to modulate these neural processes with the goal of promoting adaptive changes in attention-related brain activity.

By integrating EEG-based decoding, behavioral training, and non-invasive interventions, this study aims to determine whether targeted modulation of attention-related neural activity can support cognitive reserve in aging and mild cognitive impairment.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Austin, Texas, United States, 78712
        • Engineering Education and Research Center
        • Principal Investigator:
          • José del.R Millan, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Younger adults:

  • Good general health.
  • Normal or corrected vision.
  • no history of neurological/psychiatric disease
  • ability to read and understand English
  • ability to understand information and ability to give a free and informed consent

Older adults:

  • Normal or corrected vision.
  • Self-reports no current diagnosis of dementia.
  • Ability to provide written/electronic, informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Younger Adults:

  • Neurological or psychiatric diseases that could be contraindicated for tACS (e.g., personal history of epilepsy/seizure brain damage, history of fainting, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, current substance use disorder, etc.).
  • Medications that elevate seizure threshold (e.g., stimulant medication, high dose bupropion).
  • Factors hindering EEG acquisition and tACS delivery (e.g., skin infection, wounds, dermatitis, inability to access the scalp of the participant).

Older Adults:

  • Neurological or psychiatric diseases that could be contraindicated for tACS (e.g., personal history of epilepsy/seizure brain damage, pacemakers, history of fainting, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, current substance use disorder, etc.).
  • Medications that elevate seizure threshold (e.g., stimulant medication, high dose bupropion).
  • Factors hindering EEG acquisition and tACS delivery (e.g., skin infection, wounds, dermatitis, inability to access the scalp of the participant).
  • Diagnosis of dementia.
  • Do not have the capacity to provide informed consent.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Behavior-based Attention control with Meditation
Subjects complete an nback task after a meditation intervention in which ground truth visual feedback is provided at the end of each run.
Behavioral: Mindfulness Meditation

A relaxation protocol based on mindfulness meditation will be carried out. This consists of closing the eyes and focusing on breathing and relaxing for a period of 5 minutes.

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals will be recorded from subjects as they perform nback tasks. The neural correlates of attention will be processed and decoded in real-time using machine learning algorithms to provide feedback. Subjects are instructed to assume a mental state/find a strategy to maximise the accuracy of feedback. In total, each subject will complete 5 sessions of nback training with this intervention

Other Names:
  • Meditation
  • Relaxation
Active Comparator: Behavior-based Attention control with Open-Loop tACS
Subjects complete an nback task after a tACS intervention in which ground truth visual feedback is provided at the end of each run.
Device: transcranial electrical stimulation

tACS is delivered as a pre-task neuromodulatory intervention intended to prime neural activity before cognitive assessment.

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals will be recorded from subjects as they perform nback tasks. The neural correlates of attention will be processed and decoded in real-time using machine learning algorithms to provide feedback. Subjects are instructed to assume a mental state/find a strategy to maximise the accuracy of feedback. In total, each subject will complete 5 sessions of nback training with this intervention.

Other Names:
  • tACS
Experimental: EEG-based Attention Control and Meditation
Subjects complete an nback task in which EEG-based visual feedback is provided after each trial
Behavioral: Mindfulness Meditation

A relaxation protocol based on mindfulness meditation will be carried out. This consists of closing the eyes and focusing on breathing and relaxing for a period of 5 minutes.

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals will be recorded from subjects as they perform nback tasks. The neural correlates of attention will be processed and decoded in real-time using machine learning algorithms to provide feedback. Subjects are instructed to assume a mental state/find a strategy to maximise the accuracy of feedback. In total, each subject will complete 5 sessions of nback training with this intervention

Other Names:
  • Meditation
  • Relaxation
Experimental: EEG-Based Attention Control and Open-Loop tACS
Subjects complete an nback task in which EEG-based visual feedback is provided after each trial
Device: transcranial electrical stimulation

tACS is delivered as a pre-task neuromodulatory intervention intended to prime neural activity before cognitive assessment.

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals will be recorded from subjects as they perform nback tasks. The neural correlates of attention will be processed and decoded in real-time using machine learning algorithms to provide feedback. Subjects are instructed to assume a mental state/find a strategy to maximise the accuracy of feedback. In total, each subject will complete 5 sessions of nback training with this intervention.

Other Names:
  • tACS

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in neural correlates of attention across different intervention sessions
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of the study after 3 days (young adults) or 8 days (older adults)
This outcome measures whether neural correlates of attentional markers (e.g. amplitude, peak-to-peak, band power and connectivity measures of neural correlates) change across sessions as a result of intervention.
From enrollment to the end of the study after 3 days (young adults) or 8 days (older adults)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in correct answer rate of memory task across intervention sessions
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of the study after 3 days (young adults) or 8 days (older adults)
The correct answer rate per nback run reflects the improvements in attentional and memory skills across the two conditions. It measures the percentage of each trial memorized correctly. The score is 0-50, and the higher the value, the better the outcome.
From enrollment to the end of the study after 3 days (young adults) or 8 days (older adults)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Texas at Austin

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 21, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 25, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 5, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STUDY00008768

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

All data will be made available by the online publication date. These data will be placed in public servers for any interested researcher to access it

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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