Real-time Neurofeedback Training of Fronto-limbic Areas Functional Connectivity to Reduce Arousal
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Emotion Regulation
- Sponsor
- University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
- Enrollment
- 45
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Functional connectivity computed from blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging between regions of interest.
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This is randomized active-sham group controlled between-subject real-time fMRI neurofeedback trial aimed at modulating the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)-amygdala pathway to control subjective anxiety and arousal.
Detailed Description
The present randomized active-sham group controlled between-subject real-time fMRI neurofeedback trial aims at determining if (1) subjects can gain volitional control over the vmPFC-amygdala pathway involved in implicit emotion regulation and arousal by means of connectivity informed neurofeedback, (2) whether the training has specific effects on the behavioral and psychophysiological arousal level, and (3) or the amygdala or the vmPFC connectivity, respectively. The present project will determine the efficacy of the modulation of the vmPFC-amygdala functional connectivity pathway using vmPFC-amygdala upregulation (n = 25 subjects) compared to a sham control condition (targeting pathways not involved in emotion regulation, n = 20).
Investigators
Benjamin Becker
Professor
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •age \> 18 years old
- •other genders
- •No past or current psychiatric or neurological or other main disorders.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Pregnant, taking oral contraceptives
- •Current use of medications
- •Contraindication to MRI scanning (e.g., metal implants, claustrophobia or other conditions that make them inappropriate for MRI scanning).
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Functional connectivity computed from blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging between regions of interest.
Time Frame: 40 minutes
Increased functional connectivity computed from BOLD fMRI over the course of the real-time NF-fMRI training sessions in the neurofeedback group (regions of interest: bilateral amygdala and prefrontal area) but not in the sham group (regions of interest: bilateral motor cortex and primary auditory areas). Functional connectivity strength will be represented by bivariate regression coefficients from a general linear model characterizing the association between their BOLD signal timeseries
Secondary Outcomes
- Level of behavioural arousal assessed on NRS from 0 to 10(10 minutes)