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Neuroanatomically Informed fMRI Neurofeedback in Healthy Adults
Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Summary
This study will test and refine a type of brain training called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback in healthy adults. Neurofeedback allows participants to view real-time information about their own brain activity while undergoing an MRI scan and to attempt to modify this activity using mental strategies. The study focuses on a brain circuit involving regions important for decision-making, attention, and emotion. Participants will complete two neurofeedback MRI sessions. In one session, feedback will be based on activity within individual brain regions. In the other session, feedback will be based on communication (functional connectivity) between brain regions, guided by prior knowledge of their anatomical connections. The order of the two sessions will be randomized. The main objective is to determine whether incorporating information about the anatomical organization of brain circuits can improve fMRI neurofeedback. The findings will be used to optimize neurofeedback methods for future studies, including studies involving psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Official title: Optimizing Neuroanatomically Informed Neurofeedback in Healthy Participants
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
15
Start Date
2026-10-01
Completion Date
2027-08-31
Last Updated
2026-10-14
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Functional Connectivity fMRI Neurofeedback
Participants will receive real-time fMRI neurofeedback based on functional connectivity among targeted regions within the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and striatum. Target connections are informed by neuroanatomical connectivity information derived from neuroanatomical data. Participants attempt to modulate the targeted functional connections while performing the neurofeedback task.
ROI-Activity fMRI Neurofeedback
Participants will receive real-time fMRI neurofeedback based on regional BOLD activity within targeted regions of interest in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and striatum. Participants attempt to modulate activity within the targeted regions while performing the neurofeedback task.
Locations (1)
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas, United States