title: Connectivity changes underlying neurofeedback training of visual cortex activity.
abstract: Neurofeedback based on real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a new approach that allows training of voluntary control over regionally specific brain activity. However, the neural basis of successful neurofeedback learning remains poorly understood. Here, we assessed changes in effective brain connectivity associated with neurofeedback training of visual cortex activity. Using dynamic causal modeling (DCM), we found that training participants to increase visual cortex activity was associated with increased effective connectivity between the visual cortex and the superior parietal lobe. Specifically, participants who learned to control activity in their visual cortex showed increased top-down control of the superior parietal lobe over the visual cortex, and at the same time reduced bottom-up processing. These results are consistent with efficient employment of top-down visual attention and imagery, which were the cognitive strategies used by participants to increase their visual cortex activity.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics - CIBM, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scharnowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Maria Joao
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom; University Medical School, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Narly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Golestani
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chloe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hutton
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Josephs
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weiskopf
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Geraint
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D058765:Neurofeedback; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult