Advances in fMRI Real-Time Neurofeedback

Takeo Watanabe, Yuka Sasaki, Kazuhisa Shibata, Mitsuo Kawato
2017 Trends in Cognitive Sciences  
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback in which real-time online fMRI signals are used to self-regulate brain function. Since its advent in 2003, significant progress has been made in fMRI neurofeedback techniques. Specifically, the use of implicit protocols, external rewards, multivariate analysis, and connectivity analysis have allowed neuroscientists to explore a possible causal involvement of modified brain activity in modified behavior. These
more » ... hniques have also been integrated into groundbreaking new neurofeedback technologies, specifically decoded neurofeedback (DecNef) and functional-connectivity-based neurofeedback (FCNef). By modulating neural activity and behavior, DecNef and FCNef have substantially advanced both basic and clinical research. Keywords fMRI neurofeedback; implicit neurofeedback; external reward; multivariate analysis; decoded neurofeedback (DecNef); functional-connectivity-based neurofeedback (FCNef) Recent advancements in fMRI neurofeedback Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI; see Glossary) neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback in which real-time online fMRI signals are used to self-regulate brain function [1-9]. Studies using fMRI neurofeedback have shown improvements or changes in specific brain functions and/or behavior associated with changes in the activity of localized brain areas [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] . For example, fMRI neurofeedback changed the activation of the visual cortex and improved the performance on a visual task [20] . Since its initial development in 2003 [9], fMRI neurofeedback research has grown rapidly in popularity. This is demonstrated
doi:10.1016/j.tics.2017.09.010 pmid:29031663 pmcid:PMC5694350 fatcat:n25fymhjkfaolceuw2pxoxk3pu