title: Using real-time fMRI to learn voluntary regulation of the anterior insula in the presence of threat-related stimuli.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that healthy participants learn to control local brain activity with operant training by using real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI). Very little data exist, however, on the dynamics of interaction between critical brain regions during rt-fMRI-based training. Here, we examined self-regulation of stimulus-elicited insula activation and performed a psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis of real-time self-regulation data. During voluntary up-regulation of the left anterior insula in the presence of threat-related pictures, differential activations were observed in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, the frontal operculum, the middle cingulate cortex and the right insula. Down-regulation in comparison to no-regulation revealed additional activations in right superior temporal cortex, right inferior parietal cortex and right middle frontal cortex. There was a significant learning effect over sessions during up-regulation, documented by a significant improvement of anterior insula control over time. Connectivity analysis revealed that successful up-regulation of the activity in left anterior insula while viewing aversive pictures was directly modulated by dorsomedial and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. Down-regulation of activity was more difficult to achieve and no learning effect was observed. More extensive training might be necessary for successful down-regulation. These findings illustrate the functional interactions between different brain areas during regulation of anterior insula activity in the presence of threat-related stimuli.
authors: Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, Gartenstr. 29, 72074 Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Germany. ralf.veit@uni-tuebingen.de
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Veit
authors: Vanessa
authors: V
authors: Singh
authors: Ranganatha
authors: R
authors: Sitaram
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Caria
authors: Karsten
authors: K
authors: Rauss
authors: Niels
authors: N
authors: Birbaumer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D057566:Self Report; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen