Faculty Profile
Name: Marsiske Michael
Homepage: http://www.phhp.ufl.edu/marsiskelab/
Research Interests:
Aging: Mental functioning in late life, interventions to improve thinking/memory/problem solving, the role of cognition in late-life mobility

Current Running Projects:
Social Sciences - Video Games to improve cognition
We have one major study for which we are recruiting students.

1. "Video Games to improve cognition" study: (belchior@phhp.ufl.edu) or (ayam@phhp.ufl.edu). We are conducting a study that examines whether training older adults to play a particular class of action video games will improve everyday functioning. Participants will be randomized to one of several groups across studies: A "gold-standard" visual attention program, Crazy Taxi, control group. After orientation sessions at UF, the main intervention occurs in participants own homes over several months, as they engage in sixty hours of game play. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether increases in mental activity (as measured by gaming logs) improves cognition, as well several secondary outcomes.


Requirements: Anyone can apply. Preference for students with:
- previous General Psychology (PSY 2012/PSY 2013) and research/statistics coursework; GPA of 3.25 or higher strongly preferred
- an interest in research and statistics
- an interest in cognitive aging, especially (a) the “everyday” consequences of late life mental changes, and (b) strategies to improve or intervene in late life cognition
- a willingness to commit to 2 semesters in our lab; this will facilitate better learning and research skill development, and will also maximize you as an asset in our lab (we won’t lose you right after we get you trained)
- a willingness to attend and participate in a one-hour weekly lab meeting
- a commitment to reliability, openness to new experiences, willingness to figure things out on their own and present their solutions to the team, good social skills

Time Commitment: 3 hrs/credit, min 2 credits/semest & min 2 semest
Independent Study: Available
Work Study: Not Available
Salary: Not Available
Volunteer: Available
[Hide Details]
Social Sciences - Video Games to improve cognition
We have one major study for which we are recruiting students.

1. "Video Games to improve cognition" study: (belchior@phhp.ufl.edu) or (ayam@phhp.ufl.edu). We are conducting a study that examines whether training older adults to play a particular class of action video games will improve everyday functioning. Participants will be randomized to one of several groups across studies: A "gold-standard" visual attention program, Crazy Taxi, control group. After orientation sessions at UF, the main intervention occurs in participants own homes over several months, as they engage in sixty hours of game play. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether increases in mental activity (as measured by gaming logs) improves cognition, as well several secondary outcomes.


Requirements: Anyone can apply. Preference for students with:
- previous General Psychology (PSY 2012/PSY 2013) and research/statistics coursework; GPA of 3.25 or higher strongly preferred
- an interest in research and statistics
- an interest in cognitive aging, especially (a) the “everyday” consequences of late life mental changes, and (b) strategies to improve or intervene in late life cognition
- a willingness to commit to 2 semesters in our lab; this will facilitate better learning and research skill development, and will also maximize you as an asset in our lab (we won’t lose you right after we get you trained)
- a willingness to attend and participate in a one-hour weekly lab meeting
- a commitment to reliability, openness to new experiences, willingness to figure things out on their own and present their solutions to the team, good social skills

Time Commitment: 3 hrs/credit, min 2 credits/semest & min 2 semest
Independent Study: Available
Work Study: Not Available
Salary: Not Available
Volunteer: Available
[Hide Details]