title: Visual motion imagery neurofeedback based on the hMT+/V5 complex: evidence for a feedback-specific neural circuit involving neocortical and cerebellar regions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Current approaches in neurofeedback/brain-computer interface research often focus on identifying, on a subject-by-subject basis, the neural regions that are best suited for self-driven modulation. It is known that the hMT+/V5 complex, an early visual cortical region, is recruited during explicit and implicit motion imagery, in addition to real motion perception. This study tests the feasibility of training healthy volunteers to regulate the level of activation in their hMT+/V5 complex using real-time fMRI neurofeedback and visual motion imagery strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We functionally localized the hMT+/V5 complex to further use as a target region for neurofeedback. An uniform strategy based on motion imagery was used to guide subjects to neuromodulate hMT+/V5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that 15/20 participants achieved successful neurofeedback. This modulation led to the recruitment of a specific network as further assessed by psychophysiological interaction analysis. This specific circuit, including hMT+/V5, putative V6 and medial cerebellum was activated for successful neurofeedback runs. The putamen and anterior insula were recruited for both successful and non-successful runs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that hMT+/V5 is a region that can be modulated by focused imagery and that a specific cortico-cerebellar circuit is recruited during visual motion imagery leading to successful neurofeedback. These findings contribute to the debate on the relative potential of extrinsic (sensory) versus intrinsic (default-mode) brain regions in the clinical application of neurofeedback paradigms. This novel circuit might be a good target for future neurofeedback approaches that aim, for example, the training of focused attention in disorders such as ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, and Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Portugal. PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Banca
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Isabel Catarina
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castelo-Branco
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D019579:Neocortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult