MacInnes Jeff J, Dickerson Kathryn C, Chen Nan-Kuei, Adcock R Alison
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Neuron. 2016 Mar 16;89(6):1331-1342. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 Mar 3.
Activation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and mesolimbic networks is essential to motivation, performance, and learning. Humans routinely attempt to motivate themselves, with unclear efficacy or impact on VTA networks. Using fMRI, we found untrained participants' motivational strategies failed to consistently activate VTA. After real-time VTA neurofeedback training, however, participants volitionally induced VTA activation without external aids, relative to baseline, Pre-test, and control groups. VTA self-activation was accompanied by increased mesolimbic network connectivity. Among two comparison groups (no neurofeedback, false neurofeedback) and an alternate neurofeedback group (nucleus accumbens), none sustained activation in target regions of interest nor increased VTA functional connectivity. The results comprise two novel demonstrations: learning and generalization after VTA neurofeedback training and the ability to sustain VTA activation without external reward or reward cues. These findings suggest theoretical alignment of ideas about motivation and midbrain physiology and the potential for generalizable interventions to improve performance and learning.
腹侧被盖区（VTA）和中脑边缘网络的激活对动机、表现和学习至关重要。人类经常试图激励自己，但对VTA网络的功效或影响尚不清楚。通过功能磁共振成像（fMRI），我们发现未经训练的参与者的激励策略未能持续激活VTA。然而，经过实时VTA神经反馈训练后，相对于基线组、预测试组和对照组，参与者在没有外部辅助的情况下自主诱导了VTA激活。VTA自我激活伴随着中脑边缘网络连通性的增加。在两个比较组（无神经反馈、假神经反馈）和一个替代神经反馈组（伏隔核）中，没有一个能在目标感兴趣区域持续激活，也没有增加VTA功能连通性。这些结果包含两个新的证明：VTA神经反馈训练后的学习和泛化，以及在没有外部奖励或奖励线索的情况下维持VTA激活的能力。这些发现表明了关于动机和中脑生理学的理论一致性，以及进行可推广干预以提高表现和学习的潜力。
