title: Real-time functional MRI neurofeedback: a tool for psychiatry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review is to provide a critical overview of recent research in the field of neuroscientific and clinical application of real-time functional MRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI-nf).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RtfMRI-nf allows self-regulating activity in circumscribed brain areas and brain systems. Furthermore, the learned regulation of brain activity has an influence on specific behaviors organized by the regulated brain regions. Patients with mental disorders show abnormal activity in certain regions, and simultaneous control of these regions using rtfMRI-nf may affect the symptoms of related behavioral disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The promising results in clinical application indicate that rtfMRI-nf and other metabolic neurofeedback, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, might become a potential therapeutic tool. Further research is still required to examine whether rtfMRI-nf is a useful tool for psychiatry because there is still lack of knowledge about the neural function of certain brain systems and about neuronal markers for specific mental illnesses.
authors.affiliation: aInstitute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany bOspedale San Camillo, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Venezia - Lido, Italy.
authors.forename: Sunjung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Birbaumer
mesh_terms: D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods*