Real-time Neurofeedback Training of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Based on Positive Episodic Future Thinking

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China61 enrolled

Overview

Randomized active-sham controlled between-subject real-time fMRI neurofeedback trial aiming to modulate activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to improve subjective positive anticipation.

A randomized double-blind sham-controlled between-subject design using real-time fMRI neurofeedback. In a randomized order, a total of 60 healthy subjects will be recruited and assigned (1) experimental group (EG; N=30), which receives real neurofeedback from the left medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), or (2) control group (CG; N=30) which receives sham neurofeedback from the primary motor cortex (M1). Neurofeedback training consists of 1 baseline session without feedback, 4 training sessions with real-time feedback, and and 1 transfer session without feedback. Resting state fMRI will be employed to explore neural effects. Objectives are to determine (1) if subjects in the neurofeedback (NF) group can gain volitional control over the mPFC activation using positive episodic regulation strategy, (2) whether successful increased modulation of the mPFC could enhance positive anticipation for future events and motivation (using the Effort-Expenditure for Reward Task, EEfRT).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Healthy Neurofeedback

Interventions

real-time fMRI sham-controlled neurofeedback training procedurePROCEDURE

real-time fMRI neurofeedback training procedure running on the Turbo Brain voyager (TBV) 4.2 software (Brain Innovation, Maastricht, The Netherlands)

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 35 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy subjects without any past or present psychiatric or neurological disorders Exclusion Criteria: * History of brain injury * Psychiatric or Neurological Disorder * Contraindications for MRI * Regular use of psychotropic substances (medication, drugs)

Locations (1)

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China(UESTC)

Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Neural activity of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) based on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal

Training-induced changes in mPFC activity will be assessed by analyzing BOLD-level activation of the mPFC

Time frame: 1 hour

Secondary Outcomes

Training-related changes in anticipated pleasure

Participants will be required to rate the anticipated pleasantness of future events using a Likert Scale ranging from 1 to 9 (1 = not at all pleasant) and 9 = very pleasant).

Time frame: 1 hour

Training-related changes in motivational effort

Training-induced changes in motivational effort as measured by the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT)

Time frame: 1 hour

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.