MST Parameters for healthy 55+ year olds

[Daniel Callow]

Hello,

We are close to implementing an exercise intervention study in older adults (55+) using the MST. I was wondering if certain MST parameters are recommended by others that have looked at pattern separation in this population? We are using sets 1-4 (the study has 4-time points) and we’re planning on using the default 2s Dur, .5s ISI, 64 per condition, not self-paced, etc. but I wanted to ask if others had had experience testing this demographic that might indicate a need to change some or any of these parameters?

Best,

Daniel Callow

[Shauna Stark]

Hi Daniel!

Those parameters should be perfect for your population, except that I recommend running it "self-paced". In that mode, the image is one the screen for a fixed period of time (say, 2 or 2.5 seconds) and then disappears. Your participant can respond during the time that the image is on the screen or afterwards. In this way, you are guaranteed a response on every trial, whereas if you use a purely timed version and the participant doesn't respond in time, then data for that trial is not collected (and may disproportionately affect your trials of interest - the lures). The "self-paced" version provides control so that each participant views the item for the same amount of time, but allows more time for the response, offsetting motor slowing or executive-function issues that might affect your data otherwise. All of our aging studies are done this way.

Hope that helped!

Shauna

[Daniel Callow]

Thank you! That was super helpful!

Best,
Daniel Callow