A1 Journal article (refereed)
Data-Driven Approach to the Analysis of Real-Time FMRI Neurofeedback Data : Disorder-Specific Brain Synchrony in PTSD (2021)

Zweerings, J., Sarasjärvi, K., Mathiak, K. A., Iglesias-Fuster, J., Cong, F., Zvyagintsev, M., & Mathiak, K. (2021). Data-Driven Approach to the Analysis of Real-Time FMRI Neurofeedback Data : Disorder-Specific Brain Synchrony in PTSD. International Journal of Neural Systems, 31(11), Article 2150043. https://doi.org/10.1142/S012906572150043X

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Zweerings, Jana; Sarasjärvi, Kiira; Mathiak, Krystyna Anna; Iglesias-Fuster, Jorge; Cong, Fengyu; Zvyagintsev, Mikhail; Mathiak, Klaus

Journal or series: International Journal of Neural Systems

ISSN: 0129-0657

eISSN: 1793-6462

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 22/09/2021

Volume: 31

Issue number: 11

Article number: 2150043

Publisher: World Scientific Pub Co Pte Ltd

Publication country: Singapore

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S012906572150043X

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Abstract

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can be used in real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI NF) investigations to provide feedback on brain activity to enable voluntary regulation of the blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal from localized brain regions. However, the temporal pattern of successful self-regulation is dynamic and complex. In particular, the general linear model (GLM) assumes fixed temporal model functions and misses other dynamics. We propose a novel data-driven analyses approach for rtfMRI NF using intersubject covariance (ISC) analysis. The potential of ISC was examined in a reanalysis of data from 21 healthy individuals and nine patients with post-traumatic stress-disorder (PTSD) performing up-regulation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). ISC in the PTSD group differed from healthy controls in a network including the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). In both cohorts, ISC decreased throughout the experiment indicating the development of individual regulation strategies. ISC analyses are a promising approach to reveal novel information on the mechanisms involved in voluntary self-regulation of brain signals and thus extend the results from GLM-based methods. ISC enables a novel set of research questions that can guide future neurofeedback and neuroimaging investigations.

Keywords: neurofeedback; functional magnetic resonance imaging; mental disorders; post-traumatic stress disorder; self-regulation (psychology)

Free keywords: Real-time fMRI neurofeedback; intersubject covariance (ISC) analysis; PTSD; self-regulation; data-driven analysis approach

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1