Susanne Jaeggi and Aaron Seitz

Sponsor: National Institute of Aging

Examining the Potential for Placebo Effects in Cognitive Training

This project examines whether it is possible to induce positive changes in cognitive function via placebo-based mechanisms (e.g., positive expectations). Specific Aim (s): Aim 1: To determine the effects of explicit expectation-based and associative-learning based placebos on the outcome of cognitive training.

Aim 2: To understand whether and how placebo effects are moderated by age.

Aim 3: To understand how placebo effects are moderated by individual traits (such as cognition and personality).