Abstract
Neurofeedback (NFB) allows subjects to learn self-regulation of neuronal brain activation based on information about the ongoing activation. The implementation of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) for NFB training now facilitates the investigation into underlying processes.Our study involved 16 control and 16 training right-handed subjects, the latter performing an extensive rt-fMRI NFB training using motor imagery. A previous analysis focused on the targeted primary somato-motor cortex (SMC). The present study extends the analysis to the supplementary motor area (SMA), the next higher brain area within the hierarchy of the motor system. We also examined transfer-related functional connectivity using a whole-volume psycho-physiological interaction (PPI) analysis to reveal brain areas associated with learning.The ROI analysis of the pre- and post-training fMRI data for motor imagery without NFB (transfer) resulted in a significant training-specific increase in the SMA. It could also be shown that the contralateral SMA exhibited a larger increase than the ipsilateral SMA in the training and the transfer runs, and that the right-hand training elicited a larger increase in the transfer runs than the left-hand training. The PPI analysis revealed a training-specific increase in transfer-related functional connectivity between the left SMA and frontal areas as well as the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) for right- and left-hand trainings. Moreover, the transfer success was related with training-specific increase in functional connectivity between the left SMA and the target area SMC.Our study demonstrates that NFB training increases functional connectivity with non-targeted brain areas. These are associated with the training strategy (i.e., SMA) as well as with learning the NFB skill (i.e., aMCC and frontal areas). This detailed description of both the system to be trained and the areas involved in learning can provide valuable information for further optimization of NFB trainings.
Highlights
Neurofeedback (NFB) allows subjects to learn selfregulation of neuronal brain activation, which is normally not under volitional control
Training of somato-motor cortex (SMC) on the non-target area supplementary motor area (SMA), a 4-way mixed ANOVA was conducted on the Aligned Rank Transform (ART)-ed SMA %
The exploration of non-targeted but training-related brain areas was started within the motor system focussing on the SMA, and extended into the overall brain space covered by the fMRI volume
Summary
Neurofeedback (NFB) allows subjects to learn selfregulation of neuronal brain activation, which is normally not under volitional control. This can be achieved in a training, in which subjects find mental strategies for regulation based on the information about the ongoing neuronal activation (NFB signal). This activation is usually measured within one or more target regions (Weiskopf et al, 2004) or across the whole brain (LaConte, 2011).
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