Effects of real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback on emotional and stress reactivity

Previous studies indicate that emotional arousal and psychological stress are associated with activity changes in limbic and paralimbic brain regions, including the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex. Importantly, these changes in cerebral activity are accompanied by changes in peripheral measures of stress reactivity, such as levels of cortisol, heart rate or skin conductance. In light of the negative psychological and physiological consequences of chronic emotional arousal and stressful events (depression, PTSD), a question that has become a topic of recent research is how one might achieve voluntary control over these processes. One approach is to use real-time fMRI in order to provide feedback of ongoing activity in specific brain regions and thereby transform implicit control over brain activation into explicit voluntary control. Consequently, assuming that brain activation patterns are associated with certain mental or emotional states, changing brain activation patterns should be accompanied by changes in the respective state. The first studies using neurofeedback procedures revealed quite promising results, showing that with this type of neurofeedback human subjects can learn to control activity in several brain regions, for instance, the sensorimotor cortex, parts of the visual and auditory cortex, and parts of the limbic system. The aim of this project is to extend these findings by systematically investigating the effects of neurofeedback on emotional and stress reactivity.

Researchers:
Mark Jacob
Michael N. Smolka
Uta Wolfensteller

Collaborations:
Clemens Kirschbaum, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany