Optimizing Physical Activity-Related Health Promotion Across Adulthood Using Neuroimaging

Optimizing Physical Activity-Related Health Promotion Across Adulthood Using Neuroimaging
The goal of this project is to combine approaches from neuroscience, psychology and public health to identify ways to individually motivate adults to become more physically active in their daily life.  The study uses human neuroimaging (MRI/fMRI/DTI) to assess the structure and function of motivational brain systems in middle-aged and older adults, and to determine the sensitivity of motivational brain systems to socially or emotionally framed health messages in the Durham, NC community.  An actigraph worn on the participants’ wrists monitors everyday activity, and ascertains the efficacy of health messaging. Neural measures are used as predictors of the effectiveness of specific messages delivered via mobile phone to increase activity in daily life.