Improvement of Social Cognition Employing Real-time fMRI-based Neuro-feedback

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Neuro-feedback refers to the method whereby a subject monitors his/her own neural activity in a particular brain region of interest, and gains the ability to willfully control the level of neural activity. Recently, self-monitoring of neural activity in subcortical and other deep brain areas, as well as areas related to higher-order brain function, became possible with the development of real-time fMRI. The purpose of this research is to develop the task of improvement of social cognition employing real-time fMRI-based neuro-feedback.It is evident that pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) subjects are able to increase amygdala activity through neuro-feedback training, and that in order to willfully control amygdala activity, simultaneous activity in the insula and MPFC are necessary. Moreover, after the neuro-feedback training, the neural sensitivity of amygdala is increased.