Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China.
Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China; Department of Psychiatry, Division of Medical Psychology, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
Neuroimage. 2016 Apr 15;130:230-240. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.02.035. Epub 2016 Feb 17.
Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI)-assisted neurofeedback (NF) training allows subjects to acquire volitional control over regional brain activity. Emerging evidence suggests its potential clinical utility as an effective non-invasive treatment approach in mental disorders. The therapeutic potential of rtfMRI-NF training depends critically upon whether: (1) acquired self-regulation produces functionally relevant changes at behavioral and brain network levels and (2) training effects can be maintained in the absence of feedback. To address these key questions, the present study combined rtfMRI-NF training for acquiring volitional anterior insula (AI) regulation with a sham-controlled between-subject design. The functional relevance of acquired AI control was assessed using both behavioral (pain empathy) and neural (activity, functional connectivity) indices. Maintenance of training effects in the absence of feedback was assessed two days later. During successful acquisition of volitional AI up-regulation subjects exhibited stronger empathic responses, increased AI-prefrontal coupling in circuits involved in learning and emotion regulation and increased resting state connectivity within AI-centered empathy networks. At follow-up both self-regulation and increased connectivity in empathy networks were fully maintained, although without further increases in empathy ratings. Overall these findings support the potential clinical application of rtfMRI-NF for inducing functionally relevant and lasting changes in emotional brain circuitry.
实时功能磁共振成像（rtfMRI）辅助神经反馈（NF）训练使受试者能够获得对区域脑活动的自主控制。新出现的证据表明，它作为一种有效的非侵入性治疗方法在精神障碍中的潜在临床应用。rtfMRI-NF 训练的治疗潜力取决于以下两点：（1）获得的自我调节是否会在行为和大脑网络水平上产生功能相关的变化，以及（2）在没有反馈的情况下，训练效果是否可以维持。为了解决这些关键问题，本研究将 rtfMRI-NF 训练与 sham 对照的被试间设计相结合，用于获得自愿性前岛叶（AI）调节。使用行为（疼痛共情）和神经（活动、功能连接）指标来评估获得的 AI 控制的功能相关性。两天后评估无反馈时的训练效果维持情况。在成功获得自愿性 AI 上调的过程中，受试者表现出更强的共情反应，与学习和情绪调节相关的 AI-前额叶耦合增加，以及以 AI 为中心的共情网络中的静息状态连接增加。在随访时，自我调节和共情网络中的连接都得到了完全维持，尽管共情评分没有进一步提高。总的来说，这些发现支持 rtfMRI-NF 在诱导情绪大脑回路中产生功能相关和持久变化的潜在临床应用。
