Can neurofeedback provide evidence of direct brain-behavior causality?

NeuroImage, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 258, P. 119400 - 119400

Published: June 18, 2022

Neurofeedback is a procedure that measures brain activity in real-time and presents it as feedback to an individual, thus allowing them self-regulate with effects on cognitive processes inferred from behavior. One common argument neurofeedback studies can reveal how the measured causes particular process. The causal claim often made regarding being manipulated independent variable, similar stimulation studies. However, this inference vulnerable other upstream activities change concurrently cause changes which derived. In paper, we outline may causally affect cognition by indirect means. We further argue researchers should remain open idea trained could be part of "causal network" collectively affects rather than necessarily primary. This provide better translation evidence rest neuroscience. recent advent multivariate pattern analysis, when combined implicit neurofeedback, currently comprises strongest case for causality. Our perspective although burden inferring direct causality difficult, triangulated using collection various methods Finally, methodology provides unique advantages compared revealing but mindful effects.

Language: Английский

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Self-regulating arousal via pupil-based biofeedback

Nature Human Behaviour, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 8(1), P. 43 - 62

Published: Oct. 30, 2023

The brain's arousal state is controlled by several neuromodulatory nuclei known to substantially influence cognition and mental well-being. Here we investigate whether human participants can gain volitional control of their using a pupil-based biofeedback approach. Our approach inverts mechanism suggested previous literature that links activity the locus coeruleus, one key regulators central pupil dynamics. We show enables acquire size. Applying self-regulation systematically modulates coeruleus other brainstem structures involved in control. Furthermore, it cardiovascular measures such as heart rate, behavioural psychophysiological responses during an oddball task. provide evidence makes system accessible control, finding has tremendous potential for translation clinical applications across various domains, including stress-related anxiety disorders.

Language: Английский

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Interpersonal neural synchrony and mental disorders: unlocking potential pathways for clinical interventions

Frontiers in Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 18

Published: March 11, 2024

Introduction Interpersonal synchronization involves the alignment of behavioral, affective, physiological, and brain states during social interactions. It facilitates empathy, emotion regulation, prosocial commitment. Mental disorders characterized by interaction dysfunction, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Reactive Attachment (RAD), Social Anxiety (SAD), often exhibit atypical with others across multiple levels. With introduction “second-person” neuroscience perspective, our understanding interpersonal neural (INS) has improved, however, so far, it hardly impacted development novel therapeutic interventions. Methods To evaluate potential INS-based treatments for mental disorders, we performed two systematic literature searches identifying studies that directly target INS through neurofeedback (12 publications; 9 independent studies) or stimulation techniques (7 studies), following PRISMA guidelines. In addition, narratively review indirect manipulations biofeedback, hormonal We discuss ASD, RAD, SAD using a database search assess acceptability (4 neurostimulation in patients dysfunction. Results Although behavioral approaches, engaging eye contact cooperative actions, have been shown to be associated increased INS, little is known about long-term consequences Few proof-of-concept utilized techniques, like transcranial direct current neurofeedback, showing feasibility preliminary evidence interventions can boost synchrony connectedness. Yet, optimal protocols parameters are still undefined. For SAD, far no randomized controlled trial proven efficacy intervention although general methods seem well accepted these patient groups. Discussion Significant work remains translate into effective disorders. Future research should focus on mechanistic insights technological advancements, rigorous design standards. Furthermore, will key compare targeting those other modalities define dyads clinical

Language: Английский

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Amygdala real-time fMRI neurofeedback upregulation in treatment resistant depression: Proof of concept and dose determination

Behaviour Research and Therapy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 176, P. 104523 - 104523

Published: March 15, 2024

Previous work has shown that adults suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) can increase their amygdala reactivity while recalling positive memories via real-time neurofeedback (rt-fMRI-nf) training, which is associated with reduction in symptoms. This study investigated if this intervention could also be considered for patients MDD who do not respond to standard psychological and pharmacological interventions, i.e., treatment resistant (TR-MDD). 15 participants received 5 sessions. Outcome measures were symptoms assessed by BDI scores up 12 weeks following acute intervention, activity changes initial baseline final transfer run during sessions (neurofeedback success). Participants succeeded increasing activity. A main effect of visit on indicated a significant symptomatology. Percent signal change the showed learning curve first session only. Neurofeedback success computed was significantly only second session. When examining response, stabilized/asymptoted 3. proof-of-concept suggests two are necessary enable those upregulate activity, warranting future RCT. Over course rtfMRI-nf reported reduced Clinical trial registration number: NCT03428828 ClinicalTrials.gov.

Language: Английский

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Facing emotions: real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback using dynamic emotional faces to modulate amygdala activity

Frontiers in Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17

Published: Jan. 11, 2024

Introduction Maladaptive functioning of the amygdala has been associated with impaired emotion regulation in affective disorders. Recent advances real-time fMRI neurofeedback have successfully demonstrated modulation activity healthy and psychiatric populations. In contrast to an abstract feedback representation applied standard designs, we proposed a novel paradigm using naturalistic stimuli like human emotional faces as display where change facial expression intensity (from neutral happy or from fearful neutral) was coupled participant’s ongoing bilateral activity. Methods The feasibility this experimental approach tested on 64 participants who completed single training session four runs. Participants were assigned one groups ( n = 16 per group), i.e., happy-up, happy-down, fear-up, fear-down. Depending group assignment, they either instructed “try make face happier” by upregulating (happy-up) downregulating (happy-down) less fearful” (fear-up) (fear-down) signal. Results Linear mixed effect analyses revealed significant changes fear condition, specifically fear-down downregulation last two runs compared first run. happy-up happy-down did not show over We observe improvement questionnaire scores subsequent behavior. Furthermore, task-dependent effective connectivity between amygdala, fusiform area (FFA), medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) examined dynamic causal modeling. FFA significantly increased (facilitatory effect) decreased group. Notably, downregulated through inhibitory mechanism mediated mOFC during Discussion study, intended address key processes stimuli, participant engagement task, bidirectional regulation, task congruence, their influence learning success. It that such versatile can be tailored target biased processing

Language: Английский

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