title: Real-time fMRI: a tool for local brain regulation.
abstract: Real-time fMRI permits simultaneous measurement and observation of brain activity during an ongoing task. One of the most challenging applications of real-time fMRI in neuroscientific and clinical research is the possibility of acquiring volitional control of localized brain activity using real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback protocols. Real-time fMRI allows the experimenter to noninvasively manipulate brain activity as an independent variable to observe the effects on behavior. Real-time fMRI neurofeedback studies demonstrated that learned control of the local brain activity leads to specific changes in behavior. Here, the authors describe the implementation and application of real-time fMRI with particular emphasis on the self-regulation of local brain activity and the investigation of brain-function relationships. Real-time fMRI represents a promising new approach to cognitive neuroscience that could complement traditional neuroimaging techniques by providing more causal insights into the functional role of circumscribed brain regions in behavior.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. andrea.caria@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caria
authors.forename: Ranganatha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sitaram
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Birbaumer
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D003199:Computer Systems / Q000592:standards*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology*; D012927:Social Control, Informal / Q000379:methods