title: Cognitive Neurostimulation: Learning to Volitionally Sustain Ventral Tegmental Area Activation.
abstract: Activation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and mesolimbic networks is essential to motivation, performance, and learning. Humans routinely attempt to motivate themselves, with unclear efficacy or impact on VTA networks. Using fMRI, we found untrained participants' motivational strategies failed to consistently activate VTA. After real-time VTA neurofeedback training, however, participants volitionally induced VTA activation without external aids, relative to baseline, Pre-test, and control groups. VTA self-activation was accompanied by increased mesolimbic network connectivity. Among two comparison groups (no neurofeedback, false neurofeedback) and an alternate neurofeedback group (nucleus accumbens), none sustained activation in target regions of interest nor increased VTA functional connectivity. The results comprise two novel demonstrations: learning and generalization after VTA neurofeedback training and the ability to sustain VTA activation without external reward or reward cues. These findings suggest theoretical alignment of ideas about motivation and midbrain physiology and the potential for generalizable interventions to improve performance and learning.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Jeff J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: MacInnes
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.affiliation: Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Nan-Kuei
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: alison.adcock@duke.edu.
authors.forename: R Alison
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Adcock
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012201:Reward; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen