Improving Emotion Regulation Through Real-Time Neurofeedback Training on the Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex: Evidence From Behavioral and Brain Network Analyses.

Linlin Yu,Antao Chen,Zijun Chen,Quanshan Long,Yancheng Tang,Shouhang Yin,Chaozhe Zhu

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.620342

Abstract

We investigated if emotion regulation can be improved through self-regulation training on non-emotional brain regions, as well as how to change the brain networks implicated in this process. During the training period, the participants were instructed to up-regulate their right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) activity according to real-time functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neurofeedback signals, and there was no emotional element. The results showed that the training significantly increased emotion regulation, resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) within the emotion regulation network (ERN) and frontoparietal network (FPN), and rsFC between the ERN and amygdala; however, training did not influence the rsFC between the FPN and the amygdala. However, self-regulation training on rDLPFC significantly improved emotion regulation and generally increased the rsFCs within the networks; the rsFC between the ERN and amygdala was also selectively increased. The present study also described a safe approach that may improve emotion regulation through self-regulation training on non-emotional brain regions.

Highlights

Negative emotions, including sadness and anger, are commonly experienced in our daily lives
Emotion regulation did not differ between the NF and Sham groups at pretest; but the regulate effect was significantly higher in the NF group than in the Sham group at posttest
Training significantly enhanced the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between emotion regulation network (ERN) and amygdala; training did not affect the rsFC between the frontoparietal network (FPN) and amygdala

Summary

Introduction

Negative emotions, including sadness and anger, are commonly experienced in our daily lives. The capacity to voluntarily regulate negative emotions is essential to individuals’ normal social and cognitive functioning (Gross, 2015). Given the importance of emotion regulation, many studies have explored methods that improve emotion regulation (Schweizer et al, 2013; Hoorelbeke et al, 2016; Ranney et al, 2017). Among these methods, real-time neurofeedback (rt-nf) training has been used to successfully improve emotion regulation (Linhartova et al, 2019). In emotion regulation rt-nf studies, participants can be instructed to up-regulate or down-regulate their brain activity to increase or decrease negative or positive emotions (Linhartova et al, 2019)

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