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Weiss F, Zhang J, Aslan A, Kirsch P, Gerchen MF. Feasibility of training the dorsolateral prefrontal-striatal network by real-time fMRI neurofeedback. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1669. [PMID: 35102203 PMCID: PMC8803939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05675-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) is a promising non-invasive technique that enables volitional control of usually covert brain processes. While most rt-fMRI NF studies so far have demonstrated the ability of the method to evoke changes in brain activity and improve symptoms of mental disorders, a recently evolving field is network-based functional connectivity (FC) rt-fMRI NF. However, FC rt-fMRI NF has methodological challenges such as respirational artefacts that could potentially bias the training if not controlled. In this randomized, double-blind, yoke-controlled, pre-registered FC rt-fMRI NF study with healthy participants (N = 40) studied over three training days, we tested the feasibility of an FC rt-fMRI NF approach with online global signal regression (GSR) to control for physiological artefacts for up-regulation of connectivity in the dorsolateral prefrontal-striatal network. While our pre-registered null hypothesis significance tests failed to reach criterion, we estimated the FC training effect at a medium effect size at the end of the third training day after rigorous control of physiological artefacts in the offline data. This hints at the potential of FC rt-fMRI NF for the development of innovative transdiagnostic circuit-specific interventional approaches for mental disorders and the effect should now be confirmed in a well-powered study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Weiss
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI), Heidelberg University/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jingying Zhang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI), Heidelberg University/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Acelya Aslan
- Department of Addiction Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University/Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Peter Kirsch
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI), Heidelberg University/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.,Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Heidelberg/Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.,Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Fungisai Gerchen
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI), Heidelberg University/Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany. .,Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Heidelberg/Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany. .,Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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