Masahiro TAKAMURA

Neurofeedback (NF) aptitude, which refers to an individual's ability to change brain activity through NF training, has been reported to vary significantly from person to person. The prediction of individual NF aptitudes is critical in clinical applications to screen patients suitable for NF treatment. In the present study, we extracted the resting-state functional brain connectivity (FC) markers of NF aptitude, independent of NF-targeting brain regions. We combined the data from fMRI-NF studies targeting four different brain regions at two independent sites (obtained from 59 healthy adults and six patients with major depressive disorder) to collect resting-state fMRI data associated with aptitude scores in subsequent fMRI-NF training. We then trained the multiple regression models to predict the individual NF aptitude scores from the resting-state fMRI data using a discovery dataset from one site and identified six resting-state FCs that predicted NF aptitude. Subsequently, the reproducibility of the prediction model was validated using independent test data from another site. The identified FC model revealed that the posterior cingulate cortex was the functional hub among the brain regions and formed predictive resting-state FCs, suggesting that NF aptitude may be involved in the attentional mode-orientation modulation system's characteristics in task-free resting-state brain activity.

Background Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rtfMRI-nf) have recently attracted attention as a novel, individualized treatment method for major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, the antidepressant effect of neurofeedback training for left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activity was examined. Methods Six patients with MDD completed 5 days of neurofeedback training sessions. In each session, the patients observed a BOLD signal within their left DLPFC as a line graph, and attempted to up-regulate the signal using the graphical cue. Primary outcome measures were clinical scales of severity of depression and rumination. Results After neurofeedback training, the clinical measures were improved significantly. In addition, patient proficiency for neurofeedback training was related significantly to the improvement of the rumination symptom. Limitations Study limitations include the lack of a control group or condition, the lack of transfer run, and the small number of participants. Conclusions This small sample study suggests the possible efficacy of DLPFC activity regulation training for the treatment of MDD. As a next step, a sham-controlled randomized clinical trial is needed to confirm the antidepressive effect of left DLPFC neurofeedback.