# Alzheimer's Supplement to Human Agency and Brain-Computer Interfaces: Understanding users experiences and developing a tool for improved consent.

> **NIH NIH RF1** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $354,168

## Abstract

Project Summary
Implantable neurostimulation is a potential future complementary or alternative therapy for
enhancing or restoring memory in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other progressive
cognitive decline. As with other forms of implantable devices, use of neurostimulation for memory
has the potential to affect people’s sense of agency. The ability to feel ownership and control
over one’s memories and memory formation will be important to the ethical development and
potential future adoption of neurostimulation technologies. Stakeholder engagement is a critical
piece in developing such technology effectively and responsibly. This is currently a gap in the field
of research on neurostimulation and memory. It is not known how people involved in implantable
neurostimulation experiments experience effects on agency nor how people who may one day be
faced with a decision about adopting a neurostimulation device (or enrolling in a trial of a device)
understand cognitive enhancement or restoration. The goal of this supplement is to fill this gap
in understanding so that researchers can design devices that incorporate the preferences and
concerns about agency effects into the design of devices. There are two components to this
supplement: (1) to conduct qualitative interviews with individuals participating in a trial of
hippocampal stimulation for enhancement of memory function (n=20) about their perspectives on
agency and memory augmentation; (2) to conduct interviews with two stakeholders in the future
development of neural stimulation devices for memory, individuals with mild cognitive impairment
(n=20) and individuals with biomarkers indicating elevated future Alzheimer’s disease risk (n=20).
Results of this qualitative study of three stakeholder groups will provide the field with a roadmap
for gathering qualitative data in an expanding area of Alzheimer’s disease research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10123565
- **Project number:** 3RF1MH117800-01S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Sara Goering
- **Activity code:** RF1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $354,168
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-22 → 2022-09-20

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10123565

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10123565, Alzheimer's Supplement to Human Agency and Brain-Computer Interfaces: Understanding users experiences and developing a tool for improved consent. (3RF1MH117800-01S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10123565. Licensed CC0.

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