title: Connectivity-based neurofeedback: dynamic causal modeling for real-time fMRI.
abstract: Neurofeedback based on real-time fMRI is an emerging technique that can be used to train voluntary control of brain activity. Such brain training has been shown to lead to behavioral effects that are specific to the functional role of the targeted brain area. However, real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback so far was limited to mainly training localized brain activity within a region of interest. Here, we overcome this limitation by presenting near real-time dynamic causal modeling in order to provide feedback information based on connectivity between brain areas rather than activity within a single brain area. Using a visual-spatial attention paradigm, we show that participants can voluntarily control a feedback signal that is based on the Bayesian model comparison between two predefined model alternatives, i.e. the connectivity between left visual cortex and left parietal cortex vs. the connectivity between right visual cortex and right parietal cortex. Our new approach thus allows for training voluntary control over specific functional brain networks. Because most mental functions and most neurological disorders are associated with network activity rather than with activity in a single brain region, this novel approach is an important methodological innovation in order to more directly target functionally relevant brain networks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: yury.koush@unige.ch.
authors.forename: Yury
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koush
authors.affiliation: Computer Science Department, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Maria Joao
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Geneva Neuroscience Center, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Robineau
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Klaartje
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heinen
authors.affiliation: Geneva Neuroscience Center, Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: W Rieger
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weiskopf
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, CMU, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Geneva Neuroscience Center, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vuilleumier
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van De Ville
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scharnowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Brain connectivity; Dynamic causal modeling (DCM); Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); Neurofeedback; Real-time fMRI