Today, we are pleased to present an animation about our MELODIC project, prepared by Maélie Royal, a master’s student in the laboratory.

MELODIC is a randomized longitudinal study investigating the effects of group leisure activities on the brain, communication, cognition, and well-being of older adults. Development began in 2024 and the project welcomed its first cohort of 38 participants in the fall 2025; data collection, which spanned seven months, was completed this past winter. The study is still ongoing, with a second cohort of 37 participants, which began this summer, bringing the total number of participants to 75 to date. Additional cohorts are planned.

Participation in the study includes several visits to our laboratory and to the CERVO Research Centre’s magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facility, as well as phone interviews. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups. Two of these groups take part in weekly activity sessions, while the third, the control group, only completes the assessments.

MELODIC is supported by a team that brings together students, researchers, and research staff. On a day-to-day basis, it is the students who bring MELODIC to life. Maélie Royal and Alexandre Sicard, master’s and doctoral students, respectively, in rehabilitation sciences, dedicate most of their time to the project. They are supported by Shani-Li Madore and Marie-Hélène Thériault, research assistants in the laboratory and undergraduate students at Université Laval. Several interns and speech-language pathology students have also contributed to the project.

The animation, featuring Maélie and Shani-Li, gives you a glimpse into what a typical laboratory visit looks like from their perspective—from the preparation that takes place before a participant arrives to the end of the session, once all tasks have been completed, including tidying up and cleaning the room and equipment.