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Übersichtsarbeit

Real-Time Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Tool for Neurofeedback

Present and Future Applications

Published Online:March 31, 2020https://doi.org/10.1024/2235-0977/a000300

Abstract

Abstract. Neurofeedback allows participants to voluntarily control their own brain activity. Consequently, neurofeedback is a potential intervention tool in diverse clinical domains. Different brain signals can be fed back to the neurofeedback users, such as the hemodynamic response of the brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) or electrophysiological brain signals as measured with electroencephalography (EEG). Each of these neuroscientific methods has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance, using fMRI all brain regions can be targeted, while in EEG and NIRS signals from deeper regions cannot be precisely differentiated. Hence, fMRI-based neurofeedback allows treatment of mental and physical diseases, which are associated with activation patterns in deeper brain regions. Until now, only the blood oxygen level dependent signal (BOLD) has been used as feedback signal in fMRI-based neurofeedback studies. However, we have started to develop a neurofeedback pipeline using a different fMRI signal, namely arterial spin labeling (ASL), which will be introduced in this article. ASL neurofeedback enables a direct modulation of the cerebral blood flow and, consequently, might improve rehabilitation of disorders caused by perfusion imbalance in the future.


Echtzeit funktionelle Magnetresonanztomographie als Instrument für Neurofeedback – Gegenwärtige und zukünftige Anwendungen

Zusammenfassung. Neurofeedback ermöglicht die willentliche Kontrolle der eigenen Gehirnaktivität. Damit ist Neurofeedback ein potenzielles Interventionswerkzeug in verschiedenen klinischen Bereichen. Verschiedene Hirnsignale können an die Proband*innen rückgemeldet werden, wie z.B. die hämodynamische Reaktion des Gehirns mittels funktioneller Magnetresonanztomographie (fMRT) und Nahinfrarotspektroskopie (NIRS), oder mittels Elektroenzephalographie (EEG), welche die elektrophysiologischen Hirnsignale misst. Jede dieser neurowissenschaftlichen Methoden hat ihre Vor- und Nachteile. So können beispielsweise mit fMRT alle Hirnregionen erfasst werden, während bei EEG und NIRS Signale aus tiefer liegenden Regionen nicht genau unterschieden werden können. Daher ermöglicht fMRT-basiertes Neurofeedback die Behandlung von psychischen und physischen Erkrankungen, die mit Aktivierungsmustern in tieferen Hirnregionen einhergehen. Bisher wurde in fMRT-basierten Neurofeedback Studien nur das BOLD Signal als Feedbacksignal verwendet. Wir haben jedoch damit begonnen, eine Neurofeedback-Pipeline mit einem anderen fMRT-Signal zu entwickeln, nämlich Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL), welche in diesem Artikel vorgestellt wird. ASL Neurofeedback erlaubt die direkte Ansteuerung des zerebralen Blutflusses und könnte somit in Zukunft die Rehabilitation von Erkrankungen, die durch ein Durchblutungsungleichgewicht verursacht werden, verbessern.

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