Changes in the Brain’s Intrinsic Organization in the Resting State with Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training of Posterior Cingulate Cortex Activity

Yubao Wang,Gaoyan Zhang,Li Yao,Jipeng Zhang,Zhiying Long

doi:10.4236/jbbs.2017.713044

Yubao Wang, Gaoyan Zhang + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/jbbs.2017.713044

Copy DOI

Abstract

Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI) technology has been widely used to train subjects to actively regulate the activity of specific brain regions. Although many previous studies have demonstrated that neurofeedback training alters the functional connectivity between brain regions in the task state and resting state, it is unclear how the regulation of the key hub of the default mode network (DMN) affects the topological properties of the resting-state brain network. The current study aimed to investigate what topological changes would occur in the large-scale intrinsic organization of the resting state after the real-time down-regulation of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). The results indicated that the down-regulation of the PCC in the DMN reduced the functional connectivity of the PCC with the nodes outside of the DMN and reduced functional connectivity between the superior medial frontal gyrus (SFGmed) and parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) in the experimental group. Moreover, the nodal graph properties of the SFGmed were reduced, while that of the PHG showed the opposite alteration after the down-regulation of the PCC. These findings possibly suggest that the regulation of the key hub of the DMN, the PCC, mainly changed the information transfer of the SFGmed and PHG.

Highlights

Functional magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive technique that can be used to assess brain function by measuring blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal changes [1]
The results indicated that the down-regulation of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in the default mode network (DMN) reduced the functional connectivity of the PCC with the nodes outside of the DMN and reduced functional connectivity between the superior medial frontal gyrus (SFGmed) and parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) in the experimental group
If any functional connectivity showed a significant interaction effect (p < 0.05), tests of simple effect were further carried out and were corrected by the false discovery rate (FDR) method to examine the differences between the pre-training and post-training resting states in each group

Summary

Introduction

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a noninvasive technique that can be used to assess brain function by measuring blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal changes [1]. Task-based and resting-state fMRI are the two most popular paradigms to investigate brain function. Task-based fMRI paradigms are generally used to reveal differentiated involvement of brain regions by comparing the experimental condition with the “rest” condition. In recent years, resting-state fMRI (RS-fMRI) has attracted an increasing amount of attention to investigate synchronous activity between brain regions and identify resting-state networks [3]. Some studies have reported that the RSFC can be modulated by offline learning-related training [7] [8]. These studies suggest that the RSFC is alterable and can be affected by appropriate training. The dynamic characteristics of the RSFC are important for us to explore the functional stability and flexibility of the brain

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion