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Lu H, Rolls ET, Liu H, Stein DJ, Sahakian BJ, Elliott R, Jia T, Xie C, Xiang S, Wang N, Banaschewski T, Bokde AL, Desrivières S, Flor H, Grigis A, Garavan H, Heinz A, Brühl R, Martinot JL, Martinot MLP, Artiges E, Nees F, Orfanos DP, Lemaitre H, Poustka L, Hohmann S, Holz N, Fröhner JH, Smolka MN, Vaidya N, Walter H, Whelan R, Schumann G, Feng J, Luo Q. Genetic-Dependent Brain Signatures of Resilience: Interactions among Childhood Abuse, Genetic Risks and Brain Function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.16.612982. [PMID: 39345616 PMCID: PMC11429770 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.16.612982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Resilience to emotional disorders is critical for adolescent mental health, especially following childhood abuse. Yet, brain signatures of resilience remain undetermined due to the differential susceptibility of the brain's emotion processing system to environmental stresses. Analyzing brain's responses to angry faces in a longitudinally large-scale adolescent cohort (IMAGEN), we identified two functional networks related to the orbitofrontal and occipital regions as candidate brain signatures of resilience. In girls, but not boys, higher activation in the orbitofrontal-related network was associated with fewer emotional symptoms following childhood abuse, but only when the polygenic burden for depression was high. This finding defined a genetic-dependent brain (GDB) signature of resilience. Notably, this GDB signature predicted subsequent emotional disorders in late adolescence, extending into early adulthood and generalizable to another independent prospective cohort (ABCD). Our findings underscore the genetic modulation of resilience-brain connections, laying the foundation for enhancing adolescent mental health through resilience promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Lu
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine at Huashan Hospital, MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Human Phenome Institute, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Edmund T. Rolls
- Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience, Oxford, UK; Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Hanjia Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine at Huashan Hospital, MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Dan J. Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Barbara J. Sahakian
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Rebecca Elliott
- Department of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Tianye Jia
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine at Huashan Hospital, MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chao Xie
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine at Huashan Hospital, MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shitong Xiang
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine at Huashan Hospital, MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Student Affairs Department, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Arun L.W. Bokde
- Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sylvane Desrivières
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Precision Medicine (PONS), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, SGDP Centre, King’s College London, United Kingdom
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, 68131 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Antoine Grigis
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Vermont, 05405 Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Brühl
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Jean-Luc Martinot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM U 1299 "Trajectoires développementales & psychiatrie", University Paris-Saclay, CNRS; Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, Centre Borelli; Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Marie-Laure Paillère Martinot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM U 1299 "Trajectoires développementales & psychiatrie", University Paris-Saclay, CNRS; Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, Centre Borelli; Gif-sur-Yvette; and AP-HP. Sorbonne University, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris; France
| | - Eric Artiges
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM U 1299 "Trajectoires développementales & psychiatrie", University Paris-Saclay, CNRS; Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, Centre Borelli; Gif-sur-Yvette; and Psychiatry Department, EPS Barthélémy Durand, Etampes; France
| | - Frauke Nees
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Herve Lemaitre
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, CNRS, CEA, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Luise Poustka
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Göttingen, von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Hohmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nathalie Holz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Juliane H. Fröhner
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroimaging Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael N. Smolka
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroimaging Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nilakshi Vaidya
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Henrik Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy CCM, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Whelan
- School of Psychology and Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Precision Medicine (PONS), Institute for Science and Technology of Brain-inspired Intelligence (ISTBI), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianfeng Feng
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine at Huashan Hospital, MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Qiang Luo
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine at Huashan Hospital, MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Human Phenome Institute, Shanghai 200438, China
- Shanghai Research Center of Acupuncture & Meridian, Shanghai 200433, China
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Misaki M, Tsuchiyagaito A, Guinjoan SM, Rohan ML, Paulus MP. Whole-brain mechanism of neurofeedback therapy: predictive modeling of neurofeedback outcomes on repetitive negative thinking in depression. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:354. [PMID: 39227376 PMCID: PMC11371824 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03066-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI-NF) has emerged as a promising intervention for psychiatric disorders, yet its clinical efficacy remains underexplored due to an incomplete mechanistic understanding. This study aimed to delineate the whole-brain mechanisms underpinning the effects of rtfMRI-NF on repetitive negative thinking in depression. In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, forty-three depressed individuals underwent NF training targeting the functional connectivity (FC) between the posterior cingulate cortex and the right temporoparietal junction, linked to rumination severity. Participants were randomly assigned to active or sham groups, with the sham group receiving synthesized feedback mimicking real NF signal patterns. The active group demonstrated a significant reduction in brooding rumination scores (d = -1.52, p < 0.001), whereas the sham group did not (d = -0.23, p = 0.503). While the target FC did not show discernible training effects or group differences, connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) analysis revealed that the interaction between brain activity during regulation and brain response to the feedback signal was the critical factor in explaining treatment outcomes. The model incorporating this interaction successfully predicted rumination changes across both groups. The FCs significantly contributing to the prediction were distributed across brain regions, notably the frontal control, salience network, and subcortical reward processing areas. These results underscore the importance of considering the interplay between brain regulation activities and brain response to the feedback signal in understanding the therapeutic mechanisms of rtfMRI-NF. The study affirms rtfMRI-NF's potential as a therapeutic intervention for repetitive negative thinking and highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of the whole-brain mechanisms contributing to its efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Misaki
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA.
- Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA.
| | - Aki Tsuchiyagaito
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
- Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Salvador M Guinjoan
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center at Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
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Varkevisser T, Geuze E, van Honk J. Amygdala fMRI-A Critical Appraisal of the Extant Literature. Neurosci Insights 2024; 19:26331055241270591. [PMID: 39148643 PMCID: PMC11325331 DOI: 10.1177/26331055241270591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Even before the advent of fMRI, the amygdala occupied a central space in the affective neurosciences. Yet this amygdala-centred view on emotion processing gained even wider acceptance after the inception of fMRI in the early 1990s, a landmark that triggered a goldrush of fMRI studies targeting the amygdala in vivo. Initially, this amygdala fMRI research was mostly confined to task-activation studies measuring the magnitude of the amygdala's response to emotional stimuli. Later, interest began to shift more towards the study of the amygdala's resting-state functional connectivity and task-based psychophysiological interactions. Later still, the test-retest reliability of amygdala fMRI came under closer scrutiny, while at the same time, amygdala-based real-time fMRI neurofeedback gained widespread popularity. Each of these major subdomains of amygdala fMRI research has left its marks on the field of affective neuroscience at large. The purpose of this review is to provide a critical assessment of this literature. By integrating the insights garnered by these research branches, we aim to answer the question: What part (if any) can amygdala fMRI still play within the current landscape of affective neuroscience? Our findings show that serious questions can be raised with regard to both the reliability and validity of amygdala fMRI. These conclusions force us to cast doubt on the continued viability of amygdala fMRI as a core pilar of the affective neurosciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Varkevisser
- University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Center, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elbert Geuze
- University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Center, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jack van Honk
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Tschentscher N, Tafelmaier JC, Woll CFJ, Pogarell O, Maywald M, Vierl L, Breitenstein K, Karch S. The Clinical Impact of Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback on Emotion Regulation: A Systematic Review. Brain Sci 2024; 14:700. [PMID: 39061440 PMCID: PMC11274904 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14070700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Emotion dysregulation has long been considered a key symptom in multiple psychiatric disorders. Difficulties in emotion regulation have been associated with neural dysregulation in fronto-limbic circuits. Real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback (rt-fMRI-NFB) has become increasingly popular as a potential treatment for emotional dysregulation in psychiatric disorders, as it is able to directly target the impaired neural circuits. However, the clinical impact of these rt-fMRI-NFB protocols in psychiatric populations is still largely unknown. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of primary studies from 2010 to 2023 that used rt-fMRI-NFB to target emotion regulation. We assessed 41 out of 4001 original studies for methodological quality and risk of bias and synthesised concerning the frequency of significant rt-fMRI-NFB-related effects on the neural and behaviour level. Successful modulation of brain activity was reported in between 25 and 50 percent of study samples, while neural effects in clinical samples were more diverse than in healthy samples. Interestingly, the frequency of rt-fMRI-NFB-related behavioural improvement was over 75 percent in clinical samples, while healthy samples showed behavioural improvements between 0 and 25 percent. Concerning clinical subsamples, rt-fMRI-NFB-related behavioural improvement was observed in up to 100 percent of major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) samples. Substance use samples showed behavioural benefits ranging between 50 and 75 percent. Neural effects appeared to be less frequent than behavioural improvements: most neural outcomes ranged between 25 and 50 percent for MDD and substance use and between 0 and 25 percent for PTSD. Using multiple individualised regions of interest (ROIs) for rt-fMRI-NFB training resulted in more frequent behavioural benefits than rt-fMRI-NFB solely based on the amygdala or the prefrontal cortex. While a significant improvement in behavioural outcomes was reported in most clinical studies, the study protocols were heterogeneous, which limits the current evaluation of rt-fMRI-NFB as a putative treatment for emotional dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Tschentscher
- Section of Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany; (N.T.); (J.C.T.); (O.P.)
| | - Julia C. Tafelmaier
- Section of Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany; (N.T.); (J.C.T.); (O.P.)
| | - Christian F. J. Woll
- Section of Clinical Psychology of Children and Adolescents, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Leopoldstr. 13, 80802 Munich, Germany;
| | - Oliver Pogarell
- Section of Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany; (N.T.); (J.C.T.); (O.P.)
| | - Maximilian Maywald
- Section of Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany; (N.T.); (J.C.T.); (O.P.)
| | - Larissa Vierl
- Section of Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany; (N.T.); (J.C.T.); (O.P.)
- Section of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Leopoldstr. 13, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Katrin Breitenstein
- Section of Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany; (N.T.); (J.C.T.); (O.P.)
| | - Susanne Karch
- Section of Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany; (N.T.); (J.C.T.); (O.P.)
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Stoliker D, Novelli L, Vollenweider FX, Egan GF, Preller KH, Razi A. Neural Mechanisms of Resting-State Networks and the Amygdala Underlying the Cognitive and Emotional Effects of Psilocybin. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 96:57-66. [PMID: 38185235 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serotonergic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, alter perceptual and cognitive systems that are functionally integrated with the amygdala. These changes can alter cognition and emotions that are hypothesized to contribute to their therapeutic utility. However, the neural mechanisms of cognitive and subcortical systems altered by psychedelics are not well understood. METHODS We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance images collected during a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 24 healthy adults under 0.2 mg/kg psilocybin to estimate the directed (i.e., effective) changes between the amygdala and 3 large-scale resting-state networks involved in cognition. These networks are the default mode network, the salience network, and the central executive network. RESULTS We found a pattern of decreased top-down effective connectivity from these resting-state networks to the amygdala. Effective connectivity decreased within the default mode network and salience network but increased within the central executive network. These changes in effective connectivity were statistically associated with behavioral measures of altered cognition and emotion under the influence of psilocybin. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that temporary amygdala signal attenuation is associated with mechanistic changes to resting-state network connectivity. These changes are significant for altered cognition and perception and suggest targets for research investigating the efficacy of psychedelic therapy for internalizing psychiatric disorders. More broadly, our study suggests the value of quantifying the brain's hierarchical organization using effective connectivity to identify important mechanisms for basic cognitive function and how they are integrated to give rise to subjective experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon Stoliker
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leonardo Novelli
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Franz X Vollenweider
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gary F Egan
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katrin H Preller
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adeel Razi
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom; CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program, CIFAR, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Morawetz C, Basten U. Neural underpinnings of individual differences in emotion regulation: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105727. [PMID: 38759742 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
This review synthesises individual differences in neural processes related to emotion regulation (ER). It comprises individual differences in self-reported and physiological regulation success, self-reported ER-related traits, and demographic variables, to assess their correlation with brain activation during ER tasks. Considering region-of-interest (ROI) and whole-brain analyses, the review incorporated data from 52 functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. Results can be summarized as follows: (1) Self-reported regulation success (assessed by emotional state ratings after regulation) and self-reported ER-related traits (assessed by questionnaires) correlated with brain activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex. (2) Amygdala activation correlated with ER-related traits only in ROI analyses, while it was associated with regulation success in whole-brain analyses. (3) For demographic and physiological measures, there was no systematic overlap in effects reported across studies. In showing that individual differences in regulation success and ER-related traits can be traced back to differences in the neural activity of brain regions associated with emotional reactivity (amygdala) and cognitive control (lateral prefrontal cortex), our findings can inform prospective personalised intervention models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ulrike Basten
- Department of Psychology, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Germany
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Misaki M, Young K, Tsuchiyagaito A, Savitz J, Guinjoan SM. Clinical Response to Neurofeedback in Major Depression Relates to Subtypes of Whole-Brain Activation Patterns During Training. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.01.592108. [PMID: 38746338 PMCID: PMC11092668 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.01.592108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) poses a significant public health challenge due to its high prevalence and the substantial burden it places on individuals and healthcare systems. Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rtfMRI-NF) shows promise as a treatment for this disorder, although its mechanisms of action remain unclear. This study investigated whole-brain response patterns during rtfMRI-NF training to explain interindividual variability in clinical efficacy in MDD. We analyzed data from 95 participants (67 active, 28 control) with MDD from previous rtfMRI-NF studies designed to increase left amygdala activation through positive autobiographical memory recall. Significant symptom reduction was observed in the active group (t=-4.404, d=-0.704, p<0.001) but not in the control group (t=-1.609, d=-0.430, p=0.111). However, left amygdala activation did not account for the variability in clinical efficacy. To elucidate the brain training process underlying the clinical effect, we examined whole-brain activation patterns during two critical phases of the neurofeedback procedure: activation during the self-regulation period, and transient responses to feedback signal presentations. Using a systematic process involving feature selection, manifold extraction, and clustering with cross-validation, we identified two subtypes of regulation activation and three subtypes of brain responses to feedback signals. These subtypes were significantly associated with the clinical effect (regulation subtype: F=8.735, p=0.005; feedback response subtype: F=5.326, p=0.008; subtypes' interaction: F=3.471, p=0.039). Subtypes associated with significant symptom reduction were characterized by selective increases in control regions, including lateral prefrontal areas, and decreases in regions associated with self-referential thinking, such as default mode areas. These findings suggest that large-scale brain activity during training is more critical for clinical efficacy than the level of activation in the neurofeedback target region itself. Tailoring neurofeedback training to incorporate these patterns could significantly enhance its therapeutic efficacy.
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Poggi G, Klaus F, Pryce CR. Pathophysiology in cortico-amygdala circuits and excessive aversion processing: the role of oligodendrocytes and myelination. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae140. [PMID: 38712320 PMCID: PMC11073757 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress-related psychiatric illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, present with alterations in emotional processing, including excessive processing of negative/aversive stimuli and events. The bidirectional human/primate brain circuit comprising anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala is of fundamental importance in processing emotional stimuli, and in rodents the medial prefrontal cortex-amygdala circuit is to some extent analogous in structure and function. Here, we assess the comparative evidence for: (i) Anterior cingulate/medial prefrontal cortex<->amygdala bidirectional neural circuits as major contributors to aversive stimulus processing; (ii) Structural and functional changes in anterior cingulate cortex<->amygdala circuit associated with excessive aversion processing in stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, and in medial prefrontal cortex<->amygdala circuit in rodent models of chronic stress-induced increased aversion reactivity; and (iii) Altered status of oligodendrocytes and their oligodendrocyte lineage cells and myelination in anterior cingulate/medial prefrontal cortex<->amygdala circuits in stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders and stress models. The comparative evidence from humans and rodents is that their respective anterior cingulate/medial prefrontal cortex<->amygdala circuits are integral to adaptive aversion processing. However, at the sub-regional level, the anterior cingulate/medial prefrontal cortex structure-function analogy is incomplete, and differences as well as similarities need to be taken into account. Structure-function imaging studies demonstrate that these neural circuits are altered in both human stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders and rodent models of stress-induced increased aversion processing. In both cases, the changes include altered white matter integrity, albeit the current evidence indicates that this is decreased in humans and increased in rodent models. At the cellular-molecular level, in both humans and rodents, the current evidence is that stress disorders do present with changes in oligodendrocyte lineage, oligodendrocytes and/or myelin in these neural circuits, but these changes are often discordant between and even within species. Nonetheless, by integrating the current comparative evidence, this review provides a timely insight into this field and should function to inform future studies-human, monkey and rodent-to ascertain whether or not the oligodendrocyte lineage and myelination are causally involved in the pathophysiology of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Poggi
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Federica Klaus
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Desert-Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Christopher R Pryce
- Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- URPP Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning (AdaBD), University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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Voigt JD, Mosier M, Tendler A. Systematic review and meta-analysis of neurofeedback and its effect on posttraumatic stress disorder. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1323485. [PMID: 38577405 PMCID: PMC10993781 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1323485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background To date, only one systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has evaluated the effect of neurofeedback in PTSD, which included only four studies and found an uncertainty of the effect of EEG-NF on PTSD symptoms. This meta-analysis is an update considering that numerous studies have since been published. Additionally, more recent studies have included fMRI-NF as well as fMRI-guided or -inspired EEG NF. Methods Systematic literature searches for RCTs were conducted in three online databases. Additional hand searches of each study identified and of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published were also undertaken. Outcomes evaluated the effect of neurofeedback vs. a control (active, sham, and waiting list) on their effects in reducing PTSD symptoms using various health instruments. Meta-analytical methods used were inverse variance random-effects models measuring both mean and standardized mean differences. Quality and certainty of the evidence were assessed using GRADE. Adverse events were also evaluated. Results A total of 17 studies were identified evaluating a total of 628 patients. There were 10 studies used in the meta-analysis. Results from all studies identified favored neurofeedback's effect on reducing PTSD symptoms including BDI pretest-posttest [mean difference (MD): 8.30 (95% CI: 3.09 to 13.52; P = 0.002; I 2 = 0%)]; BDI pretest-follow-up (MD: 8.75 (95% CI: 3.53 to 13.97; P < 0.00001; I 2 = 0%); CAPS-5 pretest-posttest [MD: 7.01 (95% CI: 1.36 to 12.66; P = 0.02; I 2 = 86%)]; CAPS-5 pretest-follow-up (MD: 10 (95% CI: 1.29 to 21.29; P = 0.006; I 2 = 77%); PCL-5 pretest-posttest (MD: 7.14 (95% CI: 3.08 to 11.2; P = 0.0006; I 2 = 0%); PCL-5 pretest-follow-up (MD: 14.95 (95% CI: 7.95 to 21.96; P < 0.0001; I 2 = 0%). Other studies reported improvements using various other instruments. GRADE assessments of CAPS, PCL, and BDI demonstrated a moderate/high level in the quality of the evidence that NF has a positive clinical effect. Conclusion Based on newer published studies and the outcomes measured, NF has demonstrated a clinically meaningful effect size, with an increased effect size at follow-up. This clinically meaningful effect appears to be driven by newer fMRI-guided NF and deeper brain derivates of it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D. Voigt
- Medical Device Consultants of Ridgewood, LLC, Waldwick, NJ, United States
| | - Michael Mosier
- EMB Statistical Solutions, LLC, Topeka, KS, United States
| | - Aron Tendler
- Department Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva, Israel
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10
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Fiorito AM, Blasi G, Brunelin J, Chowdury A, Diwadkar VA, Goghari VM, Gur RC, Kwon JS, Quarto T, Rolland B, Spilka MJ, Wolf DH, Yun JY, Fakra E, Sescousse G. Blunted brain responses to neutral faces in healthy first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia: an image-based fMRI meta-analysis. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 10:38. [PMID: 38503766 PMCID: PMC10951276 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-024-00452-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is characterized by the misattribution of emotional significance to neutral faces, accompanied by overactivations of the limbic system. To understand the disorder's genetic and environmental contributors, investigating healthy first-degree relatives is crucial. However, inconsistent findings exist regarding their ability to recognize neutral faces, with limited research exploring the cerebral correlates of neutral face processing in this population. Thus, we here investigated brain responses to neutral face processing in healthy first-degree relatives through an image-based meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. We included unthresholded group-level T-maps from 5 studies comprising a total of 120 first-degree relatives and 150 healthy controls. In sensitivity analyses, we ran a combined image- and coordinate-based meta-analysis including 7 studies (157 first-degree relatives, 207 healthy controls) aiming at testing the robustness of the results in a larger sample of studies. Our findings revealed a pattern of decreased brain responses to neutral faces in relatives compared with healthy controls, particularly in limbic areas such as the bilateral amygdala, hippocampus, and insula. The same pattern was observed in sensitivity analyses. These results contrast with the overactivations observed in patients, potentially suggesting that this trait could serve as a protective factor in healthy relatives. However, further research is necessary to test this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Fiorito
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, PSYR2, 69500, Bron, France.
- Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Bron, France.
| | - Giuseppe Blasi
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | - Jérôme Brunelin
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, PSYR2, 69500, Bron, France
- Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Bron, France
| | - Asadur Chowdury
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Vaibhav A Diwadkar
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Vina M Goghari
- Department of Psychological Clinical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ruben C Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jun Soo Kwon
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tiziana Quarto
- Department of Humanities, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Benjamin Rolland
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, PSYR2, 69500, Bron, France
- Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Bron, France
| | | | - Daniel H Wolf
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Je-Yeon Yun
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eric Fakra
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, PSYR2, 69500, Bron, France
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Guillaume Sescousse
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, PSYR2, 69500, Bron, France
- Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Bron, France
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11
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Bertocci MA, Rozovsky R, Wolfe M, Abdul-Waalee H, Chobany M, Malgireddy G, Hart JA, Skeba A, Brady T, Lepore B, Versace A, Chase HW, Birmaher B, Phillips ML, Diler RS. Neural markers of mania that distinguish inpatient adolescents with bipolar disorder from those with other psychopathology. Psychiatry Res 2024; 333:115747. [PMID: 38301286 PMCID: PMC10922873 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Pediatric bipolar disorder (BD) is difficult to distinguish from other psychiatric disorders, a challenge which can result in delayed or incorrect interventions. Using neuroimaging we aimed to identify neural measures differentiating a rarified sample of inpatient adolescents with BD from other inpatient psychopathology (OP) and healthy adolescents (HC) during a reward task. We hypothesized reduced subcortical and elevated cortical activation in BD relative to other groups, and that these markers will be related to self-reported mania scores. We examined inpatient adolescents with diagnosis of BD-I/II (n = 29), OP (n = 43), and HC (n = 20) from the Inpatient Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Imaging study. Inpatient adolescents with BD showed reduced activity in right thalamus, left thalamus, and left amygdala, relative to inpatient adolescents with OP and HC. This reduced neural function explained 21% of the variance in past month and 23% of the variance in lifetime mania scores. Lower activity in regions associated with the reward network, during reward processing, differentiates BD from OP in inpatient adolescents and explains >20% of the variance in mania scores. These findings highlight potential targets to aid earlier identification of, and guide new treatment developments for, pediatric BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele A Bertocci
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Avenue, 120 Loeffler Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Renata Rozovsky
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Avenue, 120 Loeffler Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Maria Wolfe
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Mariah Chobany
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Jonathan A Hart
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alex Skeba
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tyler Brady
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Brianna Lepore
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Amelia Versace
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Avenue, 120 Loeffler Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Henry W Chase
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Avenue, 120 Loeffler Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Boris Birmaher
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Avenue, 120 Loeffler Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mary L Phillips
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Avenue, 120 Loeffler Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Rasim S Diler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 121 Meyran Avenue, 120 Loeffler Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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12
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Samson JA, Newkirk TR, Teicher MH. Practitioner Review: Neurobiological consequences of childhood maltreatment - clinical and therapeutic implications for practitioners. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:369-380. [PMID: 37609790 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood maltreatment is one of the most important preventable risk factors for a wide variety of psychiatric disorders. Further, when psychiatric disorders emerge in maltreated individuals they typically do so at younger ages, with greater severity, more psychiatric comorbid conditions, and poorer response to established treatments, resulting in a more pernicious course with an increased risk for suicide. Practitioners treating children, adolescents, and young adults with psychiatric disorders will likely encounter the highest prevalence of clients with early-onset maltreatment-associated psychiatric disorders. These may be some of their most challenging cases. METHOD In this report, we explore key validated alterations in brain structure, function, and connectivity associated with exposure to childhood maltreatment as potential mechanisms behind their patients' clinical presentations. RESULTS We then summarize key behavioral presentations likely associated with neurobiological alterations and propose a toolkit of established trauma and skills-based strategies that may help diminish symptoms and foster recovery. We also discuss how some of these alterations may serve as latent vulnerability factors for the possible development of future psychopathology. CONCLUSIONS Research on the neurobiological consequences of childhood adversity provides a vastly enriched biopsychosocial understanding of the developmental origins of health and pathology that will hopefully lead to fundamental advances in clinical psychology and psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline A Samson
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Thatcher R Newkirk
- Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Martin H Teicher
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
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13
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Watve A, Haugg A, Frei N, Koush Y, Willinger D, Bruehl AB, Stämpfli P, Scharnowski F, Sladky R. Facing emotions: real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback using dynamic emotional faces to modulate amygdala activity. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1286665. [PMID: 38274498 PMCID: PMC10808718 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1286665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Maladaptive functioning of the amygdala has been associated with impaired emotion regulation in affective disorders. Recent advances in real-time fMRI neurofeedback have successfully demonstrated the modulation of amygdala activity in healthy and psychiatric populations. In contrast to an abstract feedback representation applied in standard neurofeedback designs, we proposed a novel neurofeedback paradigm using naturalistic stimuli like human emotional faces as the feedback display where change in the facial expression intensity (from neutral to happy or from fearful to neutral) was coupled with the participant's ongoing bilateral amygdala activity. Methods The feasibility of this experimental approach was tested on 64 healthy participants who completed a single training session with four neurofeedback runs. Participants were assigned to one of the four experimental groups (n = 16 per group), i.e., happy-up, happy-down, fear-up, fear-down. Depending on the group assignment, they were either instructed to "try to make the face happier" by upregulating (happy-up) or downregulating (happy-down) the amygdala or to "try to make the face less fearful" by upregulating (fear-up) or downregulating (fear-down) the amygdala feedback signal. Results Linear mixed effect analyses revealed significant amygdala activity changes in the fear condition, specifically in the fear-down group with significant amygdala downregulation in the last two neurofeedback runs as compared to the first run. The happy-up and happy-down groups did not show significant amygdala activity changes over four runs. We did not observe significant improvement in the questionnaire scores and subsequent behavior. Furthermore, task-dependent effective connectivity changes between the amygdala, fusiform face area (FFA), and the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) were examined using dynamic causal modeling. The effective connectivity between FFA and the amygdala was significantly increased in the happy-up group (facilitatory effect) and decreased in the fear-down group. Notably, the amygdala was downregulated through an inhibitory mechanism mediated by mOFC during the first training run. Discussion In this feasibility study, we intended to address key neurofeedback processes like naturalistic facial stimuli, participant engagement in the task, bidirectional regulation, task congruence, and their influence on learning success. It demonstrated that such a versatile emotional face feedback paradigm can be tailored to target biased emotion processing in affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apurva Watve
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Amelie Haugg
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Nada Frei
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Yury Koush
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC), Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - David Willinger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Division of Psychodynamics, Department of Psychology and Psychodynamics, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Lower Austria, Austria
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, University of Zürich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Annette Beatrix Bruehl
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Psychiatric University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Stämpfli
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Frank Scharnowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, University of Zürich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ronald Sladky
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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14
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Bressler RA, Raible S, Lührs M, Tier R, Goebel R, Linden DE. No threat: Emotion regulation neurofeedback for police special forces recruits. Neuropsychologia 2023; 190:108699. [PMID: 37816480 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Police officers of the Special Forces are confronted with highly demanding situations in terms of stress, high tension and threats to their lives. Their tasks are specifically high-risk operations, such as arrests of armed suspects and anti-terror interventions. Improving the emotion regulation skills of police officers might be a vital investment, supporting them to stay calm and focused. A promising approach is training emotion regulation by using real-time (rt-) fMRI neurofeedback. Specifically, downregulating activity in key areas of the fronto-limbic emotion regulation network in the presence of threatening stimuli. Thirteen recruits of the Dutch police special forces underwent six weekly rt-fMRI sessions, receiving neurofeedback from individualized regions of their emotion regulation network. Their task was to reduce the image size of threatening images, wherein the image size represented their brain activity. A reduction in image size represented successful downregulation. Participants were free to use their preferred regulation strategy. A control group of fifteen recruits received no neurofeedback. Both groups completed behavioural tests (image rating on evoked valence and arousal, questionnaire) before and after the neurofeedback training. We hypothesized that the neurofeedback group would improve in downregulation and would score better than the control group on the behavioural tests after the neurofeedback training. Neurofeedback training resulted in a significant decrease in image size (t(12) = 2.82, p = .015) and a trend towards decreased activation in the target regions (t(10) = 1.82, p = .099) from the first to the last session. Notably, subjects achieved downregulation below the pre-stimulus baseline in the last two sessions. No relevant differences between groups were found in the behavioural tasks. Through the training of rt-fMRI neurofeedback, participants learned to downregulate the activity in individualized areas of the emotion regulation network, by using their own preferred strategies. The lack of behavioural between-group differences may be explained by floor effects. Tasks that are close to real-life situations may be needed to uncover behavioural correlates of this emotion regulation training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Andreas Bressler
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Sophie Raible
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Michael Lührs
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Brain Innovation, Maastricht, The Netherlands, Oxfordlaan 55, 6229 EV, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Ralph Tier
- Landelijke Eenheid, Dienst Speciale Interventies, Hoofdstraat 54, 3972 LB, Postbus 100, 3970 AC, Driebergen, the Netherlands
| | - Rainer Goebel
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Brain Innovation, Maastricht, The Netherlands, Oxfordlaan 55, 6229 EV, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - David E Linden
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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15
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Wimmer J, Rösch SA, Schmidt R, Hilbert A. Neurofeedback strategies in binge-eating disorder as predictors of EEG-neurofeedback regulation success. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1234085. [PMID: 38021247 PMCID: PMC10645064 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1234085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Treatment options such as neurofeedback (NF) that directly target the link between aberrant brain activity patterns and dysfunctional eating behaviors in binge-eating disorder (BED) are emerging. However, virtually nothing is known about mental strategies used to modulate food-specific brain activity and the associated brain-based or subjective success of specific strategies. This study firstly investigated the use of mental strategies in response to individually appetitive food cues in adults with BED and overweight or obesity based on a randomized-controlled trial providing electroencephalography (EEG)- or real-time functional near-infrared spectroscopy (rtfNIRS)-NF to BED. Methods Strategy reports written by participants were classified with qualitative content analysis. Additionally, the mental strategies employed by the N = 23 patients who received EEG-NF targeting the reduction of fronto-central high beta activity were analyzed quantitatively through their link with subjective and EEG-NF regulation success. Results The following eight categories, ordered by frequency in descending order, were found: "Behavior," "Imagination," "Emotion," "Distraction," "Thought," "Concentration," "Self-Talk" and "No Strategy." Linear mixed models revealed "Imagination," "Behavior," and "Thought" strategies as positive predictors of EEG-NF regulation success (defined as high beta activity during regulation beneath the baseline), and "Concentration" as a negative predictor of subjective (i.e., self-reported) NF regulation success. Discussion In conclusion, our study offers a classification system that may be used in future studies assessing strategy use for regulating food-related responses in patients with BED and associated overweight/obesity, providing valuable information on potential benefits of specific strategies and transferability to situations outside the NF treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jytte Wimmer
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases, Behavioral Medicine Research Unit, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sarah Alica Rösch
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases, Behavioral Medicine Research Unit, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School NeuroCom, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ricarda Schmidt
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases, Behavioral Medicine Research Unit, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anja Hilbert
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases, Behavioral Medicine Research Unit, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
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Conring F, Gangl N, Derome M, Wiest R, Federspiel A, Walther S, Stegmayer K. Associations of resting-state perfusion and auditory verbal hallucinations with and without emotional content in schizophrenia. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 40:103527. [PMID: 37871539 PMCID: PMC10598456 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Auditory Verbal Hallucinations (AVH) are highly prevalent in patients with schizophrenia. AVH with high emotional content lead to particularly poor functional outcome. Increasing evidence shows that AVH are associated with alterations in structure and function in language and memory related brain regions. However, neural correlates of AVH with emotional content remain unclear. In our study (n = 91), we related resting-state cerebral perfusion to AVH and emotional content, comparing four groups: patients with AVH with emotional content (n = 13), without emotional content (n = 14), without hallucinations (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 44). Patients with AVH and emotional content presented with increased perfusion within the amygdala and the ventromedial and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC/ dmPFC) compared to patients with AVH without emotional content. In addition, patients with any AVH showed hyperperfusion within the anterior cingulate gyrus, the vmPFC/dmPFC, the right hippocampus, and the left pre- and postcentral gyrus compared to patients without AVH. Our results indicate metabolic alterations in brain areas critical for the processing of emotions as key for the pathophysiology of AVH with emotional content. Particularly, hyperperfusion of the amygdala may reflect and even trigger emotional content of AVH, while hyperperfusion of the vmPFC/dmPFC cluster may indicate insufficient top-down amygdala regulation in patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frauke Conring
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Nicole Gangl
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Melodie Derome
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roland Wiest
- Support Center of Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Federspiel
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Walther
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Stegmayer
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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17
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Bramson B, Toni I, Roelofs K. Emotion regulation from an action-control perspective. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105397. [PMID: 37739325 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite increasing interest in emotional processes in cognitive science, theories on emotion regulation have remained rather isolated, predominantly focused on cognitive regulation strategies such as reappraisal. However, recent neurocognitive evidence suggests that early emotion regulation may involve sensorimotor control in addition to other emotion-regulation processes. We propose an action-oriented view of emotion regulation, in which feedforward predictions develop from action-selection mechanisms. Those can account for acute emotional-action control as well as more abstract instances of emotion regulation such as cognitive reappraisal. We argue the latter occurs in absence of overt motor output, yet in the presence of full-blown autonomic, visceral, and subjective changes. This provides an integrated framework with testable neuro-computational predictions and concrete starting points for intervention to improve emotion control in affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bob Bramson
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Behavioural Science Institute (BSI), Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 HR Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ivan Toni
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Karin Roelofs
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Behavioural Science Institute (BSI), Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 HR Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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18
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Tene O, Bleich Cohen M, Helpman L, Fine N, Halevy A, Goldway N, Perry D, Bary P, Aisenberg Romano G, Ben-Zion Z, Hendler T, Bloch M. Limbic self-neuromodulation as a novel treatment option for emotional dysregulation in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD); a proof-of-concept study. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 77:550-558. [PMID: 37354437 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
AIM To assess the efficacy of a novel neurofeedback (NF) method, targeting limbic activity, to treat emotional dysregulation related to premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). METHODS We applied a NF probe targeting limbic activity using a functional magnetic resonance imaging-inspired electroencephalogram model (termed Amyg-EFP-NF) in a double-blind randomized controlled trial. A frontal alpha asymmetry probe (AAS-NF), served as active control. Twenty-seven participants diagnosed with PMDD (mean age = 33.57 years, SD = 5.67) were randomly assigned to Amyg-EFP-NF or AAS-NF interventions with a 2:1 ratio, respectively. The treatment protocol consisted of 11 NF sessions through three menstrual cycles, and a follow-up assessment 3 months thereafter. The primary outcome measure was improvement in the Revised Observer Version of the Premenstrual Tension Syndrome Rating Scale (PMTS-OR). RESULTS A significant group by time effect was observed for the core symptom subscale of the PMTS-OR, with significant improvement observed at follow-up for the Amyg-EFP group compared with the AAS group [F(1, 15)=4.968, P = 0.042]. This finding was specifically robust for reduction in anger [F(1, 15) = 22.254, P < 0.001]. A significant correlation was found between learning scores and overall improvement in core symptoms (r = 0.514, P = 0.042) suggesting an association between mechanism of change and clinical improvement. CONCLUSION Our preliminary findings suggest that Amyg-EFP-NF may serve as an affordable and accessible non-invasive treatment option for emotional dysregulation in women suffering from PMDD. Our main limitations were the relatively small number of participants and the lack of a sham-NF placebo arm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oren Tene
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Maya Bleich Cohen
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Liat Helpman
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Department of Counseling and Human Development, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Naomi Fine
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Anat Halevy
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, Israel
| | - Noam Goldway
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Daniella Perry
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Plia Bary
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Gabi Aisenberg Romano
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ziv Ben-Zion
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Departments of Comparative Medicine and Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, US Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Talma Hendler
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Miki Bloch
- Department of Psychiatry and Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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19
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Dehghani A, Soltanian-Zadeh H, Hossein-Zadeh GA. Neural modulation enhancement using connectivity-based EEG neurofeedback with simultaneous fMRI for emotion regulation. Neuroimage 2023; 279:120320. [PMID: 37586444 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotion regulation plays a key role in human behavior and overall well-being. Neurofeedback is a non-invasive self-brain training technique used for emotion regulation to enhance brain function and treatment of mental disorders through behavioral changes. Previous neurofeedback research often focused on using activity from a single brain region as measured by fMRI or power from one or two EEG electrodes. In a new study, we employed connectivity-based EEG neurofeedback through recalling positive autobiographical memories and simultaneous fMRI to upregulate positive emotion. In our novel approach, the feedback was determined by the coherence of EEG electrodes rather than the power of one or two electrodes. We compared the efficiency of this connectivity-based neurofeedback to traditional activity-based neurofeedback through multiple experiments. The results showed that connectivity-based neurofeedback effectively improved BOLD signal change and connectivity in key emotion regulation regions such as the amygdala, thalamus, and insula, and increased EEG frontal asymmetry, which is a biomarker for emotion regulation and treatment of mental disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression and coherence among EEG channels. The psychometric evaluations conducted both before and after the neurofeedback experiments revealed that participants demonstrated improvements in enhancing positive emotions and reducing negative emotions when utilizing connectivity-based neurofeedback, as compared to traditional activity-based and sham neurofeedback approaches. These findings suggest that connectivity-based neurofeedback may be a superior method for regulating emotions and could be a useful alternative therapy for mental disorders, providing individuals with greater control over their brain and mental functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Dehghani
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
| | - Hamid Soltanian-Zadeh
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran; Departments of Radiology and Research Administration, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Gholam-Ali Hossein-Zadeh
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
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20
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Gao H, Zhang H, Wang L, Zhang C, Feng Z, Li Z, Tong L, Yan B, Hu G. Altered amygdala functional connectivity after real-time functional MRI emotion self-regulation training. Neuroreport 2023; 34:537-545. [PMID: 37384933 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Real-time functional MRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI-NF) is a noninvasive technique that extracts concurrent brain states and provides feedback to subjects in an online method. Our study aims to investigate the effect of rtfMRI-NF on amygdala-based emotion self-regulation by analyzing resting-state functional connectivity. We conducted a task experiment to train subjects in self-regulating amygdala activity in response to emotional stimuli. Twenty subjects were divided into two groups. The up-regulate group (URG) viewed positive stimulus, while the down-regulate group (DRG) viewed negative stimulus. The rtfMRI-NF experiment paradigm consisted of three conditions. The URG's percent amplitude fluctuation (PerAF) scores are significant, indicating that positive emotions may be a partial side effect, with increased activity in the left hemisphere. Resting-state functional connectivity was analyzed via a paired-sample t-test before and after neurofeedback training. Brain network properties and functional connectivity analysis showed a significant difference between the default mode network (DMN) and the brain region associated with the limbic system. These results reveal to some extent the mechanism of neurofeedback training to improve individuals' emotional regulate regulation ability. Our study has shown that rtfMRI-neurofeedback training can effectively enhance the ability to voluntarily control brain responses. Furthermore, the results of the functional analysis have revealed distinct changes in the amygdala functional connectivity circuits following rtfMRI-neurofeedback training. These findings may suggest the potential clinical applications of rtfMRI-neurofeedback as a new therapy for emotionally related mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Gao
- Henan Key Laboratory of Imaging and Intelligent Processing, PLA Strategic Support Force Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou
| | - Huan Zhang
- Research Center for Human-Machine Augmented Intelligence, Research Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
| | - Linyuan Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Imaging and Intelligent Processing, PLA Strategic Support Force Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou
| | - Chi Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Imaging and Intelligent Processing, PLA Strategic Support Force Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou
| | - Zhiyuan Feng
- Henan Key Laboratory of Imaging and Intelligent Processing, PLA Strategic Support Force Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou
- No.988 Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force
| | - Zhonglin Li
- Department of Radiology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li Tong
- Henan Key Laboratory of Imaging and Intelligent Processing, PLA Strategic Support Force Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou
| | - Bin Yan
- Henan Key Laboratory of Imaging and Intelligent Processing, PLA Strategic Support Force Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou
| | - Guoen Hu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Imaging and Intelligent Processing, PLA Strategic Support Force Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou
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21
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Harduf A, Shaked A, Yaniv AU, Salomon R. Disentangling the Neural Correlates of Agency, Ownership and Multisensory Processing. Neuroimage 2023:120255. [PMID: 37414232 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The experience of the self as an embodied agent in the world is an essential aspect of human consciousness. This experience arises from the feeling of control over one's bodily actions, termed the Sense of Agency, and the feeling that the body belongs to the self, Body Ownership. Despite long-standing philosophical and scientific interest in the relationship between the body and brain, the neural systems involved in Body Ownership and Sense of Agency, and especially their interactions, are not yet understood. In this preregistered study using the Moving Rubber Hand Illusion inside an MR-scanner, we aimed to uncover the relationship between Body Ownership and Sense of Agency in the human brain. Importantly, by using both visuomotor and visuotactile stimulations and measuring online trial-by-trial fluctuations in the illusion magnitude, we were able to disentangle brain systems related to objective sensory stimulation and subjective judgments of the bodily-self. Our results indicate that at both the behavioral and neural levels, Body Ownership and Sense of Agency are strongly interrelated. Multisensory regions in the occipital and fronto-parietal regions encoded convergence of sensory stimulation conditions. The subjective judgments of the bodily-self were related to BOLD fluctuations in the Somatosensory cortex and in regions not activated by the sensory conditions, such as the insular cortex and precuneus. Our results highlight the convergence of multisensory processing in specific neural systems for both Body Ownership and Sense of Agency with partially dissociable regions for subjective judgments in regions of the Default Mode Network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Harduf
- The Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel; The Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Ariel Shaked
- The Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Adi Ulmer Yaniv
- The Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel; Center for Developmental Social Neuroscience, Reichman University, Herzliya 4610101, Israel
| | - Roy Salomon
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, Haifa University, Haifa 31905, Israel; The Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
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22
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Dehghani A, Soltanian-Zadeh H, Hossein-Zadeh GA. Probing fMRI brain connectivity and activity changes during emotion regulation by EEG neurofeedback. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 16:988890. [PMID: 36684847 PMCID: PMC9853008 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.988890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the existence of several emotion regulation studies using neurofeedback, interactions among a small number of regions were evaluated, and therefore, further investigation is needed to understand the interactions of the brain regions involved in emotion regulation. We implemented electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback with simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a modified happiness-inducing task through autobiographical memories to upregulate positive emotion. Then, an explorative analysis of whole brain regions was done to understand the effect of neurofeedback on brain activity and the interaction of whole brain regions involved in emotion regulation. The participants in the control and experimental groups were asked to do emotion regulation while viewing positive images of autobiographical memories and getting sham or real (based on alpha asymmetry) EEG neurofeedback, respectively. The proposed multimodal approach quantified the effects of EEG neurofeedback in changing EEG alpha power, fMRI blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) activity of prefrontal, occipital, parietal, and limbic regions (up to 1.9% increase), and functional connectivity in/between prefrontal, parietal, limbic system, and insula in the experimental group. New connectivity links were identified by comparing the brain functional connectivity between experimental conditions (Upregulation and View blocks) and also by comparing the brain connectivity of the experimental and control groups. Psychometric assessments confirmed significant changes in positive and negative mood states in the experimental group by neurofeedback. Based on the exploratory analysis of activity and connectivity among all brain regions involved in emotion regions, we found significant BOLD and functional connectivity increases due to EEG neurofeedback in the experimental group, but no learning effect was observed in the control group. The results reveal several new connections among brain regions as a result of EEG neurofeedback which can be justified according to emotion regulation models and the role of those regions in emotion regulation and recalling positive autobiographical memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Dehghani
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, United States,*Correspondence: Amin Dehghani, ,
| | - Hamid Soltanian-Zadeh
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran,Medical Image Analysis Lab, Department of Radiology and Research Administration, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, United States,School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholam-Ali Hossein-Zadeh
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran,School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
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23
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Caria A, Grecucci A. Neuroanatomical predictors of real‐time
fMRI
‐based anterior insula regulation. A supervised machine learning study. Psychophysiology 2022; 60:e14237. [PMID: 36523140 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence showed that learned control of metabolic activity in selected brain regions can support emotion regulation. Notably, a number of studies demonstrated that neurofeedback-based regulation of fMRI activity in several emotion-related areas leads to modifications of emotional behavior along with changes of neural activity in local and distributed networks, in both healthy individuals and individuals with emotional disorders. However, the current understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying self-regulation of the emotional brain, as well as their relationship with other emotion regulation strategies, is still limited. In this study, we attempted to delineate neuroanatomical regions mediating real-time fMRI-based emotion regulation by exploring whole brain GM and WM features predictive of self-regulation of anterior insula (AI) activity, a neuromodulation procedure that can successfully support emotional brain regulation in healthy individuals and patients. To this aim, we employed a multivariate kernel ridge regression model to assess brain volumetric features, at regional and network level, predictive of real-time fMRI-based AI regulation. Our results showed that several GM regions including fronto-occipital and medial temporal areas and the basal ganglia as well as WM regions including the fronto-occipital fasciculus, tapetum and fornix significantly predicted learned AI regulation. Remarkably, we observed a substantial contribution of the cerebellum in relation to both the most effective regulation run and average neurofeedback performance. Overall, our findings highlighted specific neurostructural features contributing to individual differences of AI-guided emotion regulation. Notably, such neuroanatomical topography partially overlaps with the neurofunctional network associated with cognitive emotion regulation strategies, suggesting common neural mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Caria
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science University of Trento Rovereto Italy
| | - Alessandro Grecucci
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science University of Trento Rovereto Italy
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24
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Kjærstad HL, de Siqueira Rotenberg L, Knudsen GM, Vinberg M, Kessing LV, Macoveanu J, Lafer B, Miskowiak KW. The longitudinal trajectory of emotion regulation and associated neural activity in patients with bipolar disorder: A prospective fMRI study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2022; 146:568-582. [PMID: 36054343 PMCID: PMC9804505 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Impaired emotion regulation is a key feature of bipolar disorder (BD) that presents during acute mood episodes and in remission. The neural correlates of voluntary emotion regulation seem to involve deficient prefrontal top-down regulation already at BD illness onset. However, the trajectory of aberrant neuronal activity during emotion regulation in BD is unclear. METHODS We investigated neural activity during emotion regulation in response to aversive pictures from the International Affective Picture System in patients with recently diagnosed BD (n = 43) in full or partial remission and in healthy controls (HC) (n = 38) longitudinally at baseline and 16 months later. RESULTS Patients with BD exhibited stable hypo-activity in the left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and impaired emotion regulation compared to HC over the 16 months follow-up time. More DLPFC hypo-activity during emotion regulation correlated with less successful down-regulation (r = 0.16, p = 0.045), more subsyndromal depression (r = -0.18, p = 0.02) and more functional impairment (r = -0.24, p = 0.002), while more DMPFC hypo-activity correlated with less efficient emotion regulation (r = 0.16, p = 0.048). Finally, more DMPFC hypo-activity during emotion regulation at baseline was associated with an increased likelihood of subsequent relapse during the 16 months follow-up time (β = -2.26, 95% CI [0.01; 0.99], p = 0.048). CONCLUSION The stable DLPFC and DMPFC hypo-activity during emotion regulation represents a neuronal trait-marker of persistent emotion regulation difficulties in BD. Hypo-activity in the DMPFC may contribute to greater risk of relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Lie Kjærstad
- Copenhagen Affective Disorder research Centre (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre CopenhagenCopenhagen University HospitalRigshospitaletDenmark
| | - Luisa de Siqueira Rotenberg
- Bipolar Disorder Program (PROMAN), Department of PsychiatryUniversity of São Paulo Medical SchoolSão PauloBrazil
| | - Gitte Moos Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research UnitCopenhagen University HospitalRigshospitaletDenmark
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Maj Vinberg
- Copenhagen Affective Disorder research Centre (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre CopenhagenCopenhagen University HospitalRigshospitaletDenmark
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Mental Health Center, Northern ZealandCopenhagen University Hospital – Mental Health Services CPHCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Lars Vedel Kessing
- Copenhagen Affective Disorder research Centre (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre CopenhagenCopenhagen University HospitalRigshospitaletDenmark
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Julian Macoveanu
- Copenhagen Affective Disorder research Centre (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre CopenhagenCopenhagen University HospitalRigshospitaletDenmark
| | - Beny Lafer
- Bipolar Disorder Program (PROMAN), Department of PsychiatryUniversity of São Paulo Medical SchoolSão PauloBrazil
| | - Kamilla Woznica Miskowiak
- Copenhagen Affective Disorder research Centre (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre CopenhagenCopenhagen University HospitalRigshospitaletDenmark
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
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25
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The power of negative and positive episodic memories. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE, & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 22:869-903. [PMID: 35701665 PMCID: PMC9196161 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01013-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The power of episodic memories is that they bring a past moment into the present, providing opportunities for us to recall details of the experiences, reframe or update the memory, and use the retrieved information to guide our decisions. In these regards, negative and positive memories can be especially powerful: Life’s highs and lows are disproportionately represented in memory, and when they are retrieved, they often impact our current mood and thoughts and influence various forms of behavior. Research rooted in neuroscience and cognitive psychology has historically focused on memory for negative emotional content. Yet the study of autobiographical memories has highlighted the importance of positive emotional memories, and more recently, cognitive neuroscience methods have begun to clarify why positive memories may show powerful relations to mental wellbeing. Here, we review the models that have been proposed to explain why emotional memories are long-lasting (durable) and likely to be retrieved (accessible), describing how in overlapping—but distinctly separable—ways, positive and negative memories can be easier to retrieve, and more likely to influence behavior. We end by identifying potential implications of this literature for broader topics related to mental wellbeing, education, and workplace environments.
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26
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Korem N, Duek O, Ben-Zion Z, Kaczkurkin AN, Lissek S, Orederu T, Schiller D, Harpaz-Rotem I, Levy I. Emotional numbing in PTSD is associated with lower amygdala reactivity to pain. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1913-1921. [PMID: 35945274 PMCID: PMC9485255 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01405-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with altered pain perception, namely increased pain threshold and higher pain response. While pain consists of physiological and affective components, affective components are often overlooked. Similar patterns of increased threshold-high response in PTSD were shown in response to emotional stimuli, i.e., emotional numbing. As both emotional numbing and pain processing are modulated by the amygdala, we aimed to examine whether individuals diagnosed with PTSD show lower amygdala activation to pain compared with combat controls, and whether the amygdala responses to pain correlates with emotional numbing. To do so, two independent samples of veterans (original study: 44 total (20 PTSD); conceptual replication study: 40 total (20 PTSD)) underwent threat conditioning, where a conditioned stimulus (CS+; visual stimulus) was paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US; electric-shock). We contrasted the amygdala activity to the CS + US pairing with the CS+ presented alone and correlated it with emotional numbing severity. In both samples, the PTSD group showed a robust reduction in amygdala reactivity to shock compared to the Combat Controls group. Furthermore, amygdala activation was negatively correlated with emotional numbing severity. These patterns were unique to the amygdala, and did not appear in comparison to a control region, the insula, a pivotal region for the processing of pain. To conclude, amygdala response to pain is lower in individuals with PTSD, and is associated with emotional numbing symptoms. Lower amygdala reactivity to mild pain may contribute to the "all-or-none" reaction to stressful situations often observed in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nachshon Korem
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.
- Yale University School of Medicine, Departments of Comparative Medicine and Neuroscience, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
| | - Or Duek
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Ziv Ben-Zion
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | | | - Shmuel Lissek
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Temidayo Orederu
- The Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Daniela Schiller
- The Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ilan Harpaz-Rotem
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
- Yale University Department of Psychology, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University New Haven, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Ifat Levy
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
- Yale University School of Medicine, Departments of Comparative Medicine and Neuroscience, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Yale University Department of Psychology, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University New Haven, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
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27
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Pereira JA, Ray A, Rana M, Silva C, Salinas C, Zamorano F, Irani M, Opazo P, Sitaram R, Ruiz S. A real-time fMRI neurofeedback system for the clinical alleviation of depression with a subject-independent classification of brain states: A proof of principle study. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:933559. [PMID: 36092645 PMCID: PMC9452730 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.933559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Most clinical neurofeedback studies based on functional magnetic resonance imaging use the patient's own neural activity as feedback. The objective of this study was to create a subject-independent brain state classifier as part of a real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) system that can guide patients with depression in achieving a healthy brain state, and then to examine subsequent clinical changes. In a first step, a brain classifier based on a support vector machine (SVM) was trained from the neural information of happy autobiographical imagery and motor imagery blocks received from a healthy female participant during an MRI session. In the second step, 7 right-handed female patients with mild or moderate depressive symptoms were trained to match their own neural activity with the neural activity corresponding to the “happiness emotional brain state” of the healthy participant. The training (4 training sessions over 2 weeks) was carried out using the rt-fMRI NF system guided by the brain-state classifier we had created. Thus, the informative voxels previously obtained in the first step, using SVM classification and Effect Mapping, were used to classify the Blood-Oxygen-Level Dependent (BOLD) activity of the patients and converted into real-time visual feedback during the neurofeedback training runs. Improvements in the classifier accuracy toward the end of the training were observed in all the patients [Session 4–1 Median = 6.563%; Range = 4.10–27.34; Wilcoxon Test (0), 2-tailed p = 0.031]. Clinical improvement also was observed in a blind standardized clinical evaluation [HDRS CE2-1 Median = 7; Range 2 to 15; Wilcoxon Test (0), 2-tailed p = 0.016], and in self-report assessments [BDI-II CE2-1 Median = 8; Range 1–15; Wilcoxon Test (0), 2-tailed p = 0.031]. In addition, the clinical improvement was still present 10 days after the intervention [BDI-II CE3-2_Median = 0; Range −1 to 2; Wilcoxon Test (0), 2-tailed p = 0.50/ HDRS CE3-2 Median = 0; Range −1 to 2; Wilcoxon Test (0), 2-tailed p = 0.625]. Although the number of participants needs to be increased and a control group included to confirm these findings, the results suggest a novel option for neural modulation and clinical alleviation in depression using noninvasive stimulation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime A. Pereira
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory for Brain-Machine Interfaces and Neuromodulation, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andreas Ray
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Mohit Rana
- Laboratory for Brain-Machine Interfaces and Neuromodulation, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudio Silva
- Unidad de Imágenes Cuantitativas Avanzadas, Departamento de Imágenes, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana- Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cesar Salinas
- Unidad de Imágenes Cuantitativas Avanzadas, Departamento de Imágenes, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana- Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Zamorano
- Unidad de Imágenes Cuantitativas Avanzadas, Departamento de Imágenes, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Alemana- Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Martin Irani
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricia Opazo
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ranganatha Sitaram
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory for Brain-Machine Interfaces and Neuromodulation, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Ranganatha Sitaram
| | - Sergio Ruiz
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory for Brain-Machine Interfaces and Neuromodulation, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Sergio Ruiz
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Godet A, Fortier A, Bannier E, Coquery N, Val-Laillet D. Interactions between emotions and eating behaviors: Main issues, neuroimaging contributions, and innovative preventive or corrective strategies. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2022; 23:807-831. [PMID: 34984602 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-021-09700-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Emotional eating is commonly defined as the tendency to (over)eat in response to emotion. Insofar as it involves the (over)consumption of high-calorie palatable foods, emotional eating is a maladaptive behavior that can lead to eating disorders, and ultimately to metabolic disorders and obesity. Emotional eating is associated with eating disorder subtypes and with abnormalities in emotion processing at a behavioral level. However, not enough is known about the neural pathways involved in both emotion processing and food intake. In this review, we provide an overview of recent neuroimaging studies, highlighting the brain correlates between emotions and eating behavior that may be involved in emotional eating. Interaction between neural and neuro-endocrine pathways (HPA axis) may be involved. In addition to behavioral interventions, there is a need for a holistic approach encompassing both neural and physiological levels to prevent emotional eating. Based on recent imaging, this review indicates that more attention should be paid to prefrontal areas, the insular and orbitofrontal cortices, and reward pathways, in addition to regions that play a major role in both the cognitive control of emotions and eating behavior. Identifying these brain regions could allow for neuromodulation interventions, including neurofeedback training, which deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambre Godet
- Nutrition Metabolisms and Cancer (NuMeCan), INRAE, INSERM, Univ Rennes, St Gilles, France
| | - Alexandra Fortier
- Nutrition Metabolisms and Cancer (NuMeCan), INRAE, INSERM, Univ Rennes, St Gilles, France
| | - Elise Bannier
- CRNS, INSERM, IRISA, INRIA, Univ Rennes, Empenn Rennes, France
- Radiology Department, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Nicolas Coquery
- Nutrition Metabolisms and Cancer (NuMeCan), INRAE, INSERM, Univ Rennes, St Gilles, France
| | - David Val-Laillet
- Nutrition Metabolisms and Cancer (NuMeCan), INRAE, INSERM, Univ Rennes, St Gilles, France.
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Goldway N, Jalon I, Keynan JN, Hellrung L, Horstmann A, Paret C, Hendler T. Feasibility and utility of amygdala neurofeedback. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104694. [PMID: 35623447 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Amygdala NeuroFeedback (NF) have the potential of being a valuable non-invasive intervention tool in many psychiatric disporders. However, the feasibility and best practices of this method have not been systematically examined. The current article presents a review of amygdala-NF studies, an analytic summary of study design parameters, and examination of brain mechanisms related to successful amygdala-NF performance. A meta-analysis of 33 publications showed that real amygdala-NF facilitates learned modulation compared to control conditions. In addition, while variability in study dsign parameters is high, these design choices are implicitly organized by the targeted valence domain (positive or negative). However, in most cases the neuro-behavioral effects of targeting such domains were not directly assessed. Lastly, re-analyzing six data sets of amygdala-fMRI-NF revealed that successful amygdala down-modulation is coupled with deactivation of the posterior insula and nodes in the Default-Mode-Network. Our findings suggest that amygdala self-modulation can be acquired using NF. Yet, additional controlled studies, relevant behavioral tasks before and after NF intervention, and neural 'target engagement' measures are critically needed to establish efficacy and specificity. In addition, the fMRI analysis presented here suggest that common accounts regarding the brain network involved in amygdala NF might reflect unsuccessful modulation attempts rather than successful modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Goldway
- Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Itamar Jalon
- Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Tel-Aviv, Israel; School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Jackob N Keynan
- Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lydia Hellrung
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Laboratory for Social and Neural Systems Research, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annette Horstmann
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Christian Paret
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Talma Hendler
- Sagol Brain Institute, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel; School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
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Kvamme TL, Ros T, Overgaard M. Can neurofeedback provide evidence of direct brain-behavior causality? Neuroimage 2022; 258:119400. [PMID: 35728786 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofeedback is a procedure that measures brain activity in real-time and presents it as feedback to an individual, thus allowing them to self-regulate brain activity with effects on cognitive processes inferred from behavior. One common argument is that neurofeedback studies can reveal how the measured brain activity causes a particular cognitive process. The causal claim is often made regarding the measured brain activity being manipulated as an independent variable, similar to brain stimulation studies. However, this causal inference is vulnerable to the argument that other upstream brain activities change concurrently and cause changes in the brain activity from which feedback is derived. In this paper, we outline the inference that neurofeedback may causally affect cognition by indirect means. We further argue that researchers should remain open to the idea that the trained brain activity could be part of a "causal network" that collectively affects cognition rather than being necessarily causally primary. This particular inference may provide a better translation of evidence from neurofeedback studies to the rest of neuroscience. We argue that the recent advent of multivariate pattern analysis, when combined with implicit neurofeedback, currently comprises the strongest case for causality. Our perspective is that although the burden of inferring direct causality is difficult, it may be triangulated using a collection of various methods in neuroscience. Finally, we argue that the neurofeedback methodology provides unique advantages compared to other methods for revealing changes in the brain and cognitive processes but that researchers should remain mindful of indirect causal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo L Kvamme
- Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, CFIN/MINDLab, Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 3, Aarhus, Denmark; Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research (CRF), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Tomas Ros
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Campus Biotech, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Morten Overgaard
- Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, CFIN/MINDLab, Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 3, Aarhus, Denmark
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Fine NB, Schwartz N, Hendler T, Gonen T, Sheppes G. Neural Indices of Emotion Regulatory Implementation Correlate With Behavioral Regulatory Selection: Proof-of-Concept Investigation. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:835253. [PMID: 35571279 PMCID: PMC9096347 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.835253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
“Do what you do best” conveys an intuition about the association between ability and preference. In the field of emotion regulation, ability and preference are manifested in two central stages, namely, implementation and selection of regulatory strategies, which to date have been mainly studied separately. Accordingly, the present proof-of-concept study wished to provide preliminary evidence for an association between neural indices of implementation ability and behavioral selection preferences. In this pilot study, participants performed a classic neuroimaging regulatory implementation task that examined their ability (neurally reflected in the degree of amygdala modulation) to execute two central regulatory strategies, namely, attentional distraction and cognitive reappraisal while viewing negative images. Then participants performed a separate, classic behavioral selection task that examined their choice preferences for using distraction and reappraisal while viewing negative images. Confirming our conceptual framework, we found that exclusively for distraction, which has been associated with robust amygdala modulation, a decrease in amygdala activity during implementation (i.e., enhanced ability) was associated with enhanced preference to behaviorally select distraction [r(15) = −0.69, p = 0.004]. These preliminary findings link between two central emotion regulatory stages, suggesting a clue of the adaptive association between neural ability and behavioral preference for particular regulatory strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi B. Fine
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol Brain Institute Tel-Aviv, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- *Correspondence: Naomi Fine,
| | - Naama Schwartz
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol Brain Institute Tel-Aviv, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Talma Hendler
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol Brain Institute Tel-Aviv, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tal Gonen
- Sagol Brain Institute Tel-Aviv, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gal Sheppes
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Gal Sheppes,
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32
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Saul MA, He X, Black S, Charles F. A Two-Person Neuroscience Approach for Social Anxiety: A Paradigm With Interbrain Synchrony and Neurofeedback. Front Psychol 2022; 12:568921. [PMID: 35095625 PMCID: PMC8796854 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.568921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder has been widely recognised as one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders. Individuals with social anxiety disorder experience difficulties during social interactions that are essential in the regular functioning of daily routines; perpetually motivating research into the aetiology, maintenance and treatment methods. Traditionally, social and clinical neuroscience studies incorporated protocols testing one participant at a time. However, it has been recently suggested that such protocols are unable to directly assess social interaction performance, which can be revealed by testing multiple individuals simultaneously. The principle of two-person neuroscience highlights the interpersonal aspect of social interactions that observes behaviour and brain activity from both (or all) constituents of the interaction, rather than analysing on an individual level or an individual observation of a social situation. Therefore, two-person neuroscience could be a promising direction for assessment and intervention of the social anxiety disorder. In this paper, we propose a novel paradigm which integrates two-person neuroscience in a neurofeedback protocol. Neurofeedback and interbrain synchrony, a branch of two-person neuroscience, are discussed in their own capacities for their relationship with social anxiety disorder and relevance to the paradigm. The newly proposed paradigm sets out to assess the social interaction performance using interbrain synchrony between interacting individuals, and to employ a multi-user neurofeedback protocol for intervention of the social anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia A. Saul
- Faculty of Media and Communication, Centre for Digital Entertainment, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom
| | - Xun He
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Xun He
| | - Stuart Black
- Applied Neuroscience Solutions Ltd., Frimley Green, United Kingdom
| | - Fred Charles
- Department of Creative Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom
- Fred Charles
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Chaudhary S, Zhornitsky S, Chao HH, van Dyck CH, Li CSR. Emotion Processing Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease: An Overview of Behavioral Findings, Systems Neural Correlates, and Underlying Neural Biology. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2022; 37:15333175221082834. [PMID: 35357236 PMCID: PMC9212074 DOI: 10.1177/15333175221082834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
We described behavioral studies to highlight emotional processing deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The findings suggest prominent deficit in recognizing negative emotions, pronounced effect of positive emotion on enhancing memory, and a critical role of cognitive deficits in manifesting emotional processing dysfunction in AD. We reviewed imaging studies to highlight morphometric and functional markers of hippocampal circuit dysfunction in emotional processing deficits. Despite amygdala reactivity to emotional stimuli, hippocampal dysfunction conduces to deficits in emotional memory. Finally, the reviewed studies implicating major neurotransmitter systems in anxiety and depression in AD supported altered cholinergic and noradrenergic signaling in AD emotional disorders. Overall, the studies showed altered emotions early in the course of illness and suggest the need of multimodal imaging for further investigations. Particularly, longitudinal studies with multiple behavioral paradigms translatable between preclinical and clinical models would provide data to elucidate the time course and underlying neurobiology of emotion processing dysfunction in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shefali Chaudhary
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Herta H. Chao
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christopher H. van Dyck
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chiang-Shan R. Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Neukel C, Bertsch K, Wenigmann M, Spieß K, Krauch M, Steinmann S, Herpertz SC. A Mechanism-Based Approach to Anti-Aggression Psychotherapy in Borderline Personality Disorder: Group Treatment Affects Amygdala Activation and Connectivity. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11121627. [PMID: 34942929 PMCID: PMC8699721 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11121627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggression is highly prevalent in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Previous studies have identified specific biobehavioral mechanisms underlying aggression in BPD, threat sensitivity being among them. We composited the mechanism-based anti-aggression psychotherapy (MAAP) in order to target these specific mechanisms, and MAAP was found to be superior to non-specific supportive psychotherapy (NSSP) in reducing aggressive behavior. In the present study, we investigated whether underlying brain mechanisms expected to be involved were affected by MAAP. To this end, n = 33 patients with BPD and overt aggressive behavior (n = 20 in MAAP, n = 13 in NSSP) and n = 25 healthy participants took part in a functional magnetic resonance imaging emotional face-matching task before and after treatment, or at a similar time interval for controls. Overt aggressive behavior was assessed using the overt aggression scale, modified. Results showed a decrease in amygdala activation in response to facial stimuli after MAAP, whereas an increase in amygdala activation was found after NSSP. Furthermore, in the MAAP group, connectivity between amygdala and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex increased from pre- to post-treatment compared to the NSSP group. Hence, the results suggest an impact of MAAP on brain mechanisms underlying the salience circuit in response to threat cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Neukel
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.B.); (M.W.); (K.S.); (M.K.); (S.C.H.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Katja Bertsch
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.B.); (M.W.); (K.S.); (M.K.); (S.C.H.)
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Marc Wenigmann
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.B.); (M.W.); (K.S.); (M.K.); (S.C.H.)
| | - Karen Spieß
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.B.); (M.W.); (K.S.); (M.K.); (S.C.H.)
| | - Marlene Krauch
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.B.); (M.W.); (K.S.); (M.K.); (S.C.H.)
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sylvia Steinmann
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159 Mannheim, Germany;
| | - Sabine C. Herpertz
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.B.); (M.W.); (K.S.); (M.K.); (S.C.H.)
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Yan W, Liu X, Shan B, Zhang X, Pu Y. Research on the Emotions Based on Brain -Computer Technology: A Bibliometric Analysis and Research Agenda. Front Psychol 2021; 12:771591. [PMID: 34790157 PMCID: PMC8591067 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.771591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study conducts a scientific analysis of 249 literature on the application of brain-computer technology in emotion research. We find that existing researches mainly focus on engineering, computer science, neurosciences neurology and psychology. PR China, United States, and Germany have the largest number of publications. Authors can be divided into four groups: real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI) research group, brain-computer interface (BCI) impact factors analysis group, brain-computer music interfacing (BCMI) group, and user status research group. Clustering results can be divided into five categories, including external stimulus and event-related potential (ERP), electroencephalography (EEG), and information collection, support vector machine (SVM) and information processing, deep learning and emotion recognition, neurofeedback, and self-regulation. Based on prior researches, this study points out that individual differences, privacy risk, the extended study of BCI application scenarios and others deserve further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yan
- School of Management, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoju Liu
- School of Management, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Biaoan Shan
- School of Management, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | | | - Yi Pu
- School of Management, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Fruchtman-Steinbok T, Keynan JN, Cohen A, Jaljuli I, Mermelstein S, Drori G, Routledge E, Krasnoshtein M, Playle R, Linden DEJ, Hendler T. Amygdala electrical-finger-print (AmygEFP) NeuroFeedback guided by individually-tailored Trauma script for post-traumatic stress disorder: Proof-of-concept. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2021; 32:102859. [PMID: 34689055 PMCID: PMC8551212 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Randomized clinical trial with a novel self-neuromodulation training in PTSD. Demonstration of feasibility of an fMRI-informed EEG model of Amygdala modulation (AmygEFP). Individually-tailored trauma-related content as the training feedback interface. Results showed reduction of PTSD symptoms following AmygEFP trauma-related feedback training.
Background Amygdala activity dysregulation plays a central role in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hence learning to self-regulate one's amygdala activity may facilitate recovery. PTSD is further characterized by abnormal contextual processing related to the traumatic memory. Therefore, provoking the personal traumatic narrative while training amygdala down-regulation could enhance clinical efficacy. We report the results of a randomized controlled trial (NCT02544971) of a novel self-neuromodulation procedure (i.e. NeuroFeedback) for PTSD, aimed at down-regulating limbic activity while receiving feedback from an auditory script of a personal traumatic narrative. To scale-up applicability, neural activity was probed by an fMRI-informed EEG model of amygdala activity, termed Amygdala Electrical Finger-Print (AmygEFP). Methods Fifty-nine adults meeting DSM-5 criteria for PTSD were randomized between three groups: Trauma-script feedback interface (Trauma-NF) or Neutral feedback interface (Neutral-NF), and a control group of No-NF (to control for spontaneous recovery). Before and immediately after 15 NF training sessions patients were blindly assessed for PTSD symptoms and underwent one session of amygdala fMRI-NF for transferability testing. Follow-up clinical assessment was performed at 3- and 6-months following NF treatment. Results Patients in both NF groups learned to volitionally down-regulate AmygEFP signal and demonstrated a greater reduction in PTSD symptoms and improved down-regulation of the amygdala during fMRI-NF, compared to the No-NF group. The Trauma-NF group presented the largest immediate clinical improvement. Conclusions This proof-of-concept study indicates the feasibility of the AmygEFP-NF process-driven as a scalable intervention for PTSD and illustrates its clinical potential. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the contribution of AmygEFP-NF beyond exposure and placebo effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Fruchtman-Steinbok
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel; School of Psychological Sciences, Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Jackob N Keynan
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Avihay Cohen
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel; School of Psychological Sciences, Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Iman Jaljuli
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, School of Mathematical Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Gadi Drori
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Efrat Routledge
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Rebecca Playle
- Center for Trials Research, College of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - David E J Linden
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Talma Hendler
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel; School of Psychological Sciences, Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
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Keller M, Zweerings J, Klasen M, Zvyagintsev M, Iglesias J, Mendoza Quiñones R, Mathiak K. fMRI Neurofeedback-Enhanced Cognitive Reappraisal Training in Depression: A Double-Blind Comparison of Left and Right vlPFC Regulation. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:715898. [PMID: 34497546 PMCID: PMC8419460 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.715898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Affective disorders are associated with maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. In particular, the left more than the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) may insufficiently regulate emotion processing, e.g., in the amygdala. A double-blind cross-over study investigated NF-supported cognitive reappraisal training in major depression (n = 42) and age- and gender-matched controls (n = 39). In a randomized order, participants trained to upregulate either the left or the right vlPFC during cognitive reappraisal of negative images on two separate days. We wanted to confirm regional specific NF effects with improved learning for left compared to right vlPFC (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03183947). Brain responses and connectivity were studied with respect to training progress, gender, and clinical outcomes in a 4-week follow-up. Increase of vlPFC activity was stronger after NF training from the left- than the right-hemispheric ROI. This regional-specific NF effect during cognitive reappraisal was present across patients with depression and controls and supports a central role of the left vlPFC for cognitive reappraisal. Further, the activity in the left target region was associated with increased use of cognitive reappraisal strategies (r = 0.48). In the 4-week follow-up, 75% of patients with depression reported a successful application of learned strategies in everyday life and 55% a clinically meaningful symptom improvement suggesting clinical usability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micha Keller
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, School of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jana Zweerings
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, School of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Klasen
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, School of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Training Centre for Medical Education and Patient Safety—AIXTRA, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mikhail Zvyagintsev
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, School of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jorge Iglesias
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Cuban Center for Neuroscience, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Klaus Mathiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, School of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-Brain, Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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38
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Verdonk C, Trousselard M, Di Bernardi Luft C, Medani T, Billaud JB, Ramdani C, Canini F, Claverie D, Jaumard-Hakoun A, Vialatte F. The heartbeat evoked potential does not support strong interoceptive sensibility in trait mindfulness. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13891. [PMID: 34227116 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The enhancement of body awareness is proposed as one of the cognitive mechanisms that characterize mindfulness. To date, this hypothesis is supported by self-report and behavioral measures but still lacks physiological evidence. The current study investigated relation between trait mindfulness (i.e., individual differences in the ability to be mindful in daily life) and body awareness in combining a self-report measure (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness [MAIA] questionnaire) with analysis of the heartbeat evoked potential (HEP), which is an event-related potential reflecting the cortical processing of the heartbeat. The HEP data were collected from 17 healthy participants under five minutes of resting-state condition. In addition, each participant completed the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory and the MAIA questionnaire. Taking account of the important variability of HEP effects, analyses were replicated with the same participants three times (in three distinct sessions). First, group-level analyses showed that HEP amplitude and trait mindfulness do not correlate. Secondly, we observed that HEP amplitude could positively correlate with self-reported body awareness; however, this association was unreliable over time. Interestingly, we found that HEP measure shows very poor reliability over time at the individual level, potentially explaining the lack of reliable association between HEP and psychological traits. Lastly, a reliable positive correlation was found between self-reported trait mindfulness and body awareness. Taken together, these findings provide preliminary evidence that the HEP might not support the increased subjective body awareness in trait mindfulness, thus suggesting that perhaps objective and subjective measures of body awareness could be independent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Verdonk
- Unit of Neurophysiology of Stress, Department of Neurosciences and Cognitive Sciences, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France.,Brain Plasticity Unit, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Marion Trousselard
- Unit of Neurophysiology of Stress, Department of Neurosciences and Cognitive Sciences, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France.,French Military Health Service Academy, Paris, France
| | | | - Takfarinas Medani
- Brain Plasticity Unit, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Billaud
- Unit of Neurophysiology of Stress, Department of Neurosciences and Cognitive Sciences, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Céline Ramdani
- Unit of Neurophysiology of Stress, Department of Neurosciences and Cognitive Sciences, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Frédéric Canini
- Unit of Neurophysiology of Stress, Department of Neurosciences and Cognitive Sciences, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France.,French Military Health Service Academy, Paris, France
| | - Damien Claverie
- Unit of Neurophysiology of Stress, Department of Neurosciences and Cognitive Sciences, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | | | - François Vialatte
- Brain Plasticity Unit, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, Paris, France
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39
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Russo AG, Lührs M, Di Salle F, Esposito F, Goebel R. Towards semantic fMRI neurofeedback: navigating among mental states using real-time representational similarity analysis. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 33684900 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abecc3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective. Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rt-fMRI-NF) is a non-invasive MRI procedure allowing examined participants to learn to self-regulate brain activity by performing mental tasks. A novel two-step rt-fMRI-NF procedure is proposed whereby the feedback display is updated in real-time based on high-level representations of experimental stimuli (e.g. objects to imagine) via real-time representational similarity analysis of multi-voxel patterns of brain activity.Approach. In a localizer session, the stimuli become associated with anchored points on a two-dimensional representational space where distances approximate between-pattern (dis)similarities. In the NF session, participants modulate their brain response, displayed as a movable point, to engage in a specific neural representation. The developed method pipeline is verified in a proof-of-concept rt-fMRI-NF study at 7 T involving a single healthy participant imagining concrete objects. Based on this data and artificial data sets with similar (simulated) spatio-temporal structure and variable (injected) signal and noise, the dependence on noise is systematically assessed.Main results. The participant in the proof-of-concept study exhibited robust activation patterns in the localizer session and managed to control the neural representation of a stimulus towards the selected target in the NF session. The offline analyses validated the rt-fMRI-NF results, showing that the rapid convergence to the target representation is noise-dependent.Significance. Our proof-of-concept study introduces a new NF method allowing the participant to navigate among different mental states. Compared to traditional NF designs (e.g. using a thermometer display to set the level of the neural signal), the proposed approach provides content-specific feedback to the participant and extra degrees of freedom to the experimenter enabling real-time control of the neural activity towards a target brain state without suggesting a specific mental strategy to the subject.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G Russo
- Department of Political and Communication Sciences, University of Salerno, Fisciano (Salerno), Italy.,Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Baronissi (Salerno), Italy
| | - Michael Lührs
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Brain Innovation B.V., Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Francesco Di Salle
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Baronissi (Salerno), Italy
| | - Fabrizio Esposito
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Baronissi (Salerno), Italy.,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences,University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Napoli,Italy
| | - Rainer Goebel
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Brain Innovation B.V., Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Yu L, Long Q, Tang Y, Yin S, Chen Z, Zhu C, Chen A. Improving Emotion Regulation Through Real-Time Neurofeedback Training on the Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex: Evidence From Behavioral and Brain Network Analyses. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:620342. [PMID: 33815078 PMCID: PMC8010650 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.620342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated if emotion regulation can be improved through self-regulation training on non-emotional brain regions, as well as how to change the brain networks implicated in this process. During the training period, the participants were instructed to up-regulate their right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) activity according to real-time functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neurofeedback signals, and there was no emotional element. The results showed that the training significantly increased emotion regulation, resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) within the emotion regulation network (ERN) and frontoparietal network (FPN), and rsFC between the ERN and amygdala; however, training did not influence the rsFC between the FPN and the amygdala. However, self-regulation training on rDLPFC significantly improved emotion regulation and generally increased the rsFCs within the networks; the rsFC between the ERN and amygdala was also selectively increased. The present study also described a safe approach that may improve emotion regulation through self-regulation training on non-emotional brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Quanshan Long
- Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China
| | - Yancheng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shouhang Yin
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chaozhe Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.,IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.,Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Antao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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41
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Kwon JH, Kim HE, Kim J, Kim EJ, Kim JJ. Differences in basic psychological needs-related resting-state functional connectivity between individuals with high and low life satisfaction. Neurosci Lett 2021; 750:135798. [PMID: 33675884 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Basic psychological needs including autonomy, competence, and relatedness can be affected by the level of life satisfaction. The current research aimed to elucidate differences in the association of these needs and functional connectivity of reward processing and emotion regulation between individuals with high and low life satisfaction. A total of 83 young adults were divided into the high life satisfaction (HLS) and low life satisfaction (LLS) groups and were scanned for 5-min resting-state fMRI. A seed-to-voxel analysis was performed using the seeds of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), medial orbitofrontal cortex, subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), insula, and amygdala. Analysis of covariance was conducted to test differences in the association of basic psychological needs and functional connectivity between the two groups. Connectivity strengths between the NAcc and right ventromedial prefrontal cortex and between the sgACC and left ventromedial prefrontal cortex were higher in the HLS group as the autonomy and relatedness scores increased, respectively, whereas in the LLS group as they decreased. Connectivity strengths between the NAcc and right midcingulate cortex and between the sgACC and left fusiform gyrus were higher in the HLS group as the competence and relatedness scores decreased, respectively, but in the LLS group as they increased. These findings suggest that individuals' perceived life satisfaction affects the relationship between the neural mechanism for reward processing and emotion regulation and basic psychological needs support. Psychological need satisfactions seem to have an emotional impact by acting as a contradictory brain mechanism between individuals with high and low life satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Hee Kwon
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hesun Erin Kim
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joohan Kim
- Department of Communication, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Joo Kim
- Graduate School of Education, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Jin Kim
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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42
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The Current Evidence Levels for Biofeedback and Neurofeedback Interventions in Treating Depression: A Narrative Review. Neural Plast 2021; 2021:8878857. [PMID: 33613671 PMCID: PMC7878101 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8878857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This article is aimed at showing the current level of evidence for the usage of biofeedback and neurofeedback to treat depression along with a detailed review of the studies in the field and a discussion of rationale for utilizing each protocol. La Vaque et al. criteria endorsed by the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback and International Society for Neuroregulation & Research were accepted as a means of study evaluation. Heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback was found to be moderately supportable as a treatment of MDD while outcome measure was a subjective questionnaire like Beck Depression Inventory (level 3/5, “probably efficacious”). Electroencephalographic (EEG) neurofeedback protocols, namely, alpha-theta, alpha, and sensorimotor rhythm upregulation, all qualify for level 2/5, “possibly efficacious.” Frontal alpha asymmetry protocol also received limited evidence of effect in depression (level 2/5, “possibly efficacious”). Finally, the two most influential real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) neurofeedback protocols targeting the amygdala and the frontal cortices both demonstrate some effectiveness, though lack replications (level 2/5, “possibly efficacious”). Thus, neurofeedback specifically targeting depression is moderately supported by existing studies (all fit level 2/5, “possibly efficacious”). The greatest complication preventing certain protocols from reaching higher evidence levels is a relatively high number of uncontrolled studies and an absence of accurate replications arising from the heterogeneity in protocol details, course lengths, measures of improvement, control conditions, and sample characteristics.
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43
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Berboth S, Morawetz C. Amygdala-prefrontal connectivity during emotion regulation: A meta-analysis of psychophysiological interactions. Neuropsychologia 2021; 153:107767. [PMID: 33516732 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Given the importance of emotion regulation as a transdiagnostic factor in the development of psychopathology, a myriad of neuroimaging studies has investigated its neural underpinnings. However, single studies usually provide limited insight into the function of specific brain regions. Hence, to better understand the interaction between key regions involved in emotion generation and regulation, we performed a coordinate-based meta-analysis on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies that examined emotion regulation-modulated connectivity of the amygdala using psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis. We analyzed fifteen PPI studies using the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) algorithm. Investigating emotion regulation-modulated connectivity independent of regulation strategy and goal revealed convergent connectivity between the amygdala and the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), which was primarily driven by PPI studies implementing reappraisal as a regulation strategy. A more focused analysis testing for effective coupling during the down-regulation of emotions by using reappraisal specifically revealed convergent connectivity between the amygdala and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), and the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). These prefrontal regions have been implicated in emotion regulatory processes such as working memory (dlPFC), language processes (vlPFC), and the attribution of mental states (dmPFC). Our findings suggest not only a dynamic modulation of connectivity between emotion generative and regulatory systems during the cognitive control of emotions, but also highlight the robustness of task-modulated prefrontal-amygdala coupling, thereby informing neurally-derived models of emotion regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Berboth
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
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44
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Brain Networks Connectivity in Mild to Moderate Depression: Resting State fMRI Study with Implications to Nonpharmacological Treatment. Neural Plast 2021; 2021:8846097. [PMID: 33510782 PMCID: PMC7822653 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8846097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Network mechanisms of depression development and especially of improvement from nonpharmacological treatment remain understudied. The current study is aimed at examining brain networks functional connectivity in depressed patients and its dynamics in nonpharmacological treatment. Resting state fMRI data of 21 healthy adults and 51 patients with mild or moderate depression were analyzed with spatial independent component analysis; then, correlations between time series of the components were calculated and compared between-group (study 1). Baseline and repeated-measure data of 14 treated (psychotherapy or fMRI neurofeedback) and 15 untreated depressed participants were similarly analyzed and correlated with changes in depression scores (study 2). Aside from diverse findings, studies 1 and 2 both revealed changes in within-default mode network (DMN) and DMN to executive control network (ECN) connections. Connectivity in one pair, initially lower in depression, decreased in no treatment group and was inversely correlated with Montgomery-Asberg depression score change in treatment group. Weak baseline connectivity in this pair also predicted improvement on Montgomery-Asberg scale in both treatment and no treatment groups. Coupling of another pair, initially stronger in depression, increased in therapy though was unrelated to improvement. The results demonstrate possible role of within-DMN and DMN-ECN functional connectivity in depression treatment and suggest that neural mechanisms of nonpharmacological treatment action may be unrelated to normalization of initially disrupted connectivity.
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45
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Mathiak K, Keller M. Clinical Application of Real-Time fMRI-Based Neurofeedback for Depression. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1305:275-293. [PMID: 33834405 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-33-6044-0_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging-based neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) is a recent technique used to train self-regulation of circumscribed brain areas or networks. For clinical applications in depression, NF training targets brain areas with disturbed activation patterns, such as heightened reactivity of amygdala in response to negative stimuli, in order to normalize the neurophysiology and their behavioral correlates. Recent studies have targeted emotion processing areas such as the amygdala, the salience network, and top-down control areas such as the lateral prefrontal cortex. Different methods of rt-fMRI-based NF in depression, their potential for clinical improvement, and most recent advancements of this technology are discussed considering their role for future clinical applications. Initial findings of randomized controlled trials show promising results. However, for lasting treatment effects, clinical efficiency and optimal target regions, tasks, control conditions, and duration of training need to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Mathiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Micha Keller
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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46
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Wang X, Blain SD, Wei D, Yang W, Yang J, Zhuang K, He L, DeYoung CG, Qiu J. The role of frontal-subcortical connectivity in the relation between coping styles and reactivity and downregulation of negative emotion. Brain Cogn 2020; 146:105631. [PMID: 33120205 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Coping styles (CS) reflect individuals' habitual use of strategies for coping with negative events in daily life. Although research into coping has not reached consistent agreement about classifying coping strategies as either inherently adaptive or maladaptive, the influence of maladaptive CS on mental health is noticeable. CS might also be related to emotion regulation and associated brain systems. Participants (N = 165) completed measurements of CS, trait emotions including trait anxiety, depressive symptoms and happiness and then performed an emotion regulation task, in conjunction with functional MRI. Individual differences in maladaptive CS use were associated with higher trait negative emotionality and higher state reactivity of negative emotion. Concurrent bilateral amygdala-right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) connectivity during passive negative stimulus processing mediated the relation between maladaptive CS and negative emotion ratings. Psychophysiological interaction analyses showed that maladaptive and adaptive CS were linked to patterns of frontal-subcortical connectivity during state emotion regulation. These results suggest that maladaptive CS might be related to negative emotion processing and weaker spontaneous regulation and indicate that maladaptive CS is a risk factor in individual mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China; Southwest University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Scott D Blain
- Psychology Department, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, MN, USA
| | - Dongtao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China; Southwest University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Wenjing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China; Southwest University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Junyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China; School of Education Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Kaixiang Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China; Southwest University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Li He
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China; Southwest University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Colin G DeYoung
- Psychology Department, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, MN, USA.
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China; Southwest University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
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47
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Zweerings J, Sarkheil P, Keller M, Dyck M, Klasen M, Becker B, Gaebler AJ, Ibrahim CN, Turetsky BI, Zvyagintsev M, Flatten G, Mathiak K. Rt-fMRI neurofeedback-guided cognitive reappraisal training modulates amygdala responsivity in posttraumatic stress disorder. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 28:102483. [PMID: 33395974 PMCID: PMC7689411 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We found neurofeedback-specific attenuation of amygdala responses. Trauma symptoms and the affective state improved in patients at one-month follow-up. Reduced amygdala responses were associated with improved well-being at follow-up. 75% of individuals with PTSD used the learned strategies in daily life. Left lateral prefrontal cortex responses were reduced during neurofeedback training.
Background Traumatic experiences are associated with neurofunctional dysregulations in key regions of the emotion regulation circuits. In particular, amygdala responsivity to negative stimuli is exaggerated while engagement of prefrontal regulatory control regions is attenuated. Successful application of emotion regulation (ER) strategies may counteract this disbalance, however, application of learned strategies in daily life is hampered in individuals afflicted by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We hypothesized that a single session of real-time fMRI (rtfMRI) guided upregulation of prefrontal regions during an emotion regulation task enhances self-control during exposure to negative stimuli and facilitates transfer of the learned ER skills to daily life. Methods In a cross-over design, individuals with a PTSD diagnosis after a single traumatic event (n = 20) according to DSM-IV-TR criteria and individuals without a formal psychiatric diagnosis (n = 21) underwent a cognitive reappraisal training. In randomized order, all participants completed two rtfMRI neurofeedback (NF) runs targeting the left lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC) and two control runs without NF (NoNF) while using cognitive reappraisal to reduce their emotional response to negative scenes. During the NoNF runs, two %%-signs were displayed instead of the two-digit feedback (FB) to achieve a comparable visual stimulation. The project aimed at defining the clinical potential of the training according to three success markers: (1) NF induced changes in left lateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral amygdala activity during the regulation of aversive scenes compared to cognitive reappraisal alone (primary registered outcome), (2) associated changes on the symptomatic and behavioral level such as indicated by PTSD symptom severity and affect ratings, (3) clinical utility such as indicated by perceived efficacy, acceptance, and transfer to daily life measured four weeks after the training. Results In comparison to the reappraisal without feedback, a neurofeedback-specific decrease in the left lateral PFC (d = 0.54) alongside an attenuation of amygdala responses (d = 0.33) emerged. Reduced amygdala responses during NF were associated with symptom improvement (r = −0.42) and less negative affect (r = −0.63) at follow-up. The difference in symptom scores exceeds requirements for a minimal clinically important difference and corresponds to a medium effect size (d = 0.64). Importantly, 75% of individuals with PTSD used the strategies in daily life during a one-month follow-up period and perceived the training as efficient. Conclusion Our findings suggest beneficial effects of the NF training indicated by reduced amygdala responses that were associated with improved symptom severity and affective state four weeks after the NF training as well as patient-centered perceived control during the training, helpfulness and application of strategies in daily life. However, reduced prefrontal involvement was unexpected. The study suggests good tolerability of the training protocol and potential for clinical use in the treatment of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Zweerings
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Pegah Sarkheil
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Micha Keller
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Miriam Dyck
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Novarea RPK, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Klasen
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Clinical Hospital of the Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Arnim J Gaebler
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Camellia N Ibrahim
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Bruce I Turetsky
- Neuropsychiatry Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mikhail Zvyagintsev
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Brain Imaging Facility, Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Studies (IZKF), School of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | - Guido Flatten
- Euregio-Institut für Psychosomatik und Psychotraumatologie, Aachen, Germany
| | - Klaus Mathiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, JARA-Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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48
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Steward T, Davey CG, Jamieson AJ, Stephanou K, Soriano-Mas C, Felmingham KL, Harrison BJ. Dynamic Neural Interactions Supporting the Cognitive Reappraisal of Emotion. Cereb Cortex 2020; 31:961-973. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The cognitive reappraisal of emotion is hypothesized to involve frontal regions modulating the activity of subcortical regions such as the amygdala. However, the pathways by which structurally disparate frontal regions interact with the amygdala remains unclear. In this study, 104 healthy young people completed a cognitive reappraisal task. Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) was used to map functional interactions within a frontoamygdalar network engaged during emotion regulation. Five regions were identified to form the network: the amygdala, the presupplementary motor area (preSMA), the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Bayesian Model Selection was used to compare 256 candidate models, with our winning model featuring modulations of vmPFC-to-amygdala and amygdala-to-preSMA pathways during reappraisal. Moreover, the strength of amygdala-to-preSMA modulation was associated with the habitual use of cognitive reappraisal. Our findings support the vmPFC serving as the primary conduit through which prefrontal regions directly modulate amygdala activity, with amygdala-to-preSMA connectivity potentially acting to shape ongoing affective motor responses. We propose that these two frontoamygdalar pathways constitute a recursive feedback loop, which computes the effectiveness of emotion-regulatory actions and drives model-based behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Steward
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Victoria 3053, Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Christopher G Davey
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Alec J Jamieson
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Katerina Stephanou
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Carles Soriano-Mas
- Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute/IDIBELL and CIBERSAM, Barcelona 08907, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology in Health Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ben J Harrison
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Victoria 3053, Australia
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49
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Dehghani A, Soltanian-Zadeh H, Hossein-Zadeh GA. Global Data-Driven Analysis of Brain Connectivity During Emotion Regulation by Electroencephalography Neurofeedback. Brain Connect 2020; 10:302-315. [PMID: 32458692 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2019.0734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Emotion regulation by neurofeedback involves interactions among multiple brain regions, including prefrontal cortex and subcortical regions. Previous studies focused on connections of specific brain regions such as amygdala with other brain regions. New method: Electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback is used to upregulate positive emotion by retrieving positive autobiographical memories and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data acquired simultaneously. A global data-driven approach, group independent component analysis, is applied to the fMRI data and functional network connectivity (FNC) estimated. Results: The proposed approach identified all functional networks engaged in positive autobiographical memories and evaluated effects of neurofeedback. The results revealed two pairs of networks with significantly different functional connectivity among emotion regulation blocks (relative to other blocks of the experiment) and between experimental and control groups (false discovery rate corrected for multiple comparisons, q = 0.05). FNC distribution showed significant connectivity differences between neurofeedback blocks and other blocks, revealing more synchronized brain networks during neurofeedback. Comparison with Existing Methods: Although the results are consistent with those of previous model-based studies, some of the connections found in this study were not found previously. These connections are between (a) occipital and other regions including limbic system/sublobar, prefrontal/frontal cortex, inferior parietal, and middle temporal gyrus and (b) posterior cingulate cortex and hippocampus. Conclusions: This study provided a global insight into brain connectivity for emotion regulation. The brain network interactions may be used to develop connectivity-based neurofeedback methods and alternative therapeutic approaches, which may be more effective than the traditional activity-based neurofeedback methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Dehghani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Soltanian-Zadeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Neuroimaging, School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Radiology and Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA.,Department of Research Administration, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Gholam-Ali Hossein-Zadeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Neuroimaging, School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
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50
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Caria A. Mesocorticolimbic Interactions Mediate fMRI-Guided Regulation of Self-Generated Affective States. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10040223. [PMID: 32276411 PMCID: PMC7226604 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10040223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows that the generation and regulation of affective responses is associated with activity of large brain networks that also include phylogenetically older regions in the brainstem. Mesencephalic regions not only control autonomic responses but also participate in the modulation of autonomic, emotional, and motivational responses. The specific contribution of the midbrain to emotion regulation in humans remains elusive. Neuroimaging studies grounding on appraisal models of emotion emphasize a major role of prefrontal cortex in modulating emotion-related cortical and subcortical regions but usually neglect the contribution of the midbrain and other brainstem regions. Here, the role of mesolimbic and mesocortical networks in core affect generation and regulation was explored during emotion regulation guided by real-time fMRI feedback of the anterior insula activity. The fMRI and functional connectivity analysis revealed that the upper midbrain significantly contributes to emotion regulation in humans. Moreover, differential functional interactions between the dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic system and frontoparietal networks mediate up and down emotion regulatory processes. Finally, these findings further indicate the potential of real-time fMRI feedback approach in guiding core affect regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Caria
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, University of Trento, Corso Bettini 33, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
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