Feedback
Feedback has been studied in 10 papers since 2016: 5 trials and 4 observational studies in people, 1 review; 1 in the past year. The newest paper, Jun 8, 2026: “Meaningful voluntary work design and dual pathways for healthy aging (MVP-HA): a cross-sectional and mixed-methods study in Hong Kong”.
At a glance
The findings reach people, from one lab or study. 2 independent labs in 2 countries.
“older adults were able to learn to increase their decision weight for the diagnostic cue progressively, as younger adults did, with the feedback provided during the task.”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 2 independent labs in 2 countries
- Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China and others
- Human trial5
- Humans4
Studies in people
1 study gave feedback to people and measured what changed.
| What changed | Design | People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
up: Improves item-specific processing down: Decreases gist processing | Trialbaseline, BFB, and OFB stages with a 24-hour interval after each feedback stage | younger and older adultsYounger university students and community-dwelling older adults | PloS one, Dec 29, 2016 |
What did studies of feedback find?
5Studies of feedback measured 5 outcomes; the most studied are reaction-time intra-individual variability (1 study), decision weight for diagnostic cue (1) and physical activity (1).
Reaction-time intra-individual variability
downin humans1
1 study
Reaction-time intra-individual variability
downin humans1
Feedback decreases reaction-time intra-individual variability in humans (older adults).
“reaction-time variability in older adults is reduced within minutes by feedback”
Reviewolder adults
The Economy Point: How Comfort Withdrew the Load That Held Cortical Timing in Place
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)Preprint
Decision weight for diagnostic cue
upin humans1
1 study
Decision weight for diagnostic cue
upin humans1
Feedback increases decision weight for diagnostic cue in humans (rule-based trust game with feedback).
“older adults were able to learn to increase their decision weight for the diagnostic cue progressively, as younger adults did, with the feedback provided during the task.”
Human trialrule-based trust game with feedbackn = 105
Rule-based learning among older adults: Overcoming prior beliefs for better trust-related decisions
Psychology and aging
Physical activity
upin humans1
1 study
Physical activity
upin humans1
Feedback increases physical activity in humans (excluding high risk of bias trials) (SMD 0.35, 95% CI 0.11-0.60).
“feedback (excluding high risk of bias trials) (SMD 0.35, 95% CI 0.11-0.60) were independently associated with increased physical activity.”
Reviewexcluding high risk of bias trials
Age and ageing
Gist processing
downin humans1
1 study
Gist processing
downin humans1
Feedback decreases gist processing in humans.
“under objective feedback, older adults reduced the usage of gist to a greater level than did younger adults”
Human trialbaseline, BFB, and OFB stages with a 24-hour interval after each feedback stage
The Effects of Feedback on Memory Strategies of Younger and Older Adults
PloS one
Item-specific processing
upin humans1
1 study
Item-specific processing
upin humans1
Feedback improves item-specific processing in humans.
“The findings indicated that biased feedback would compromise individuals’ item-specific processing, whereas objective feedback would enhance it (see ).”
Human trialbaseline, BFB, and OFB stages with a 24-hour interval after each feedback stage
The Effects of Feedback on Memory Strategies of Younger and Older Adults
PloS one
Funding
15 grants since 2018National Cancer Institute$3.1MNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases$761KJapan Society for the Promotion of Science¥9.1M
Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceHamamatsu University School of Medicine¥4.6M2026–2030
Natural Science Foundation of Hunan ProvinceHunan University of Chinese Medicine2026
Natural Science Foundation of Hunan ProvinceXiangya Hospital, Central South University2026
Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceHamamatsu University School of Medicine¥4.6M2025–2029
Nuclear force feedback as rheostat for actomyosin tension control
UKRI | Medical Research CouncilUniversity of Liverpool£587K2024–2027
Wellcome TrustUniversity of Sheffield£677K2024–2029
Tai Chi Exercise and Wearable Feedback Technology to Promote Physical Activity in ACS Survivors
National Center for Complementary and Alternative MedicineBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center$619K2022–2025
Feedback loop and crosstalk in the mTORC1/2 signaling network
National Cancer InstituteUniversity of Illinois Chicago$359K2019–2024
Enhancing balance and gait in ageing populations through rapid and localized tactile feedback
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilUniversity of Sheffield2021–2026
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesBrigham and Women's Hospital$214K2020–2024
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