Research on the neural process relating to biofeedback by fMRI and MEG measurement

生物反馈被认为是一种身心相互作用的学习过程，涉及到超意识和潜意识。为了研究生物反馈相关的神经过程，我们从四个角度进行了fMRI和MEG测量：(1)意识状态的改变，(2)信息获取的熟悉，(3)中介的记忆和意象，以及(4)中枢神经系统控制自主神经系统的神经活动。在实验(1)中，双侧前额叶区的神经活动与改变过程密切相关。在实验(2)中，听觉熟悉度与听觉活跃区面积变化相关。在实验(3)中，与自传体记忆相关的图像被证明对生物反馈的学习过程有帮助。在实验(4)中，自主神经系统的活动伴随着边缘系统和神经节以及部分皮质区域的活动。在此基础上，提出了意识层面的学习系统学习目标生物功能对应的潜意识调节系统特征的数学模型。当学习收敛时，学习系统本身就成为调节系统的逆系统。然后，如果在意识层面向学习系统发出调节命令，它就会在没有外部反馈通路的情况下，严格按照命令驱动调节系统，从而实现对生物功能的自愿控制。该模型很好地解释了生物反馈的特点：在学习过程中加入外部信息通路，参照它进行一系列的自我学习。并最终获得自主控制目标生物功能的能力，而无需外部反馈途径的帮助。

Biofeedback is considered as a learning process of mind-body interaction relating to both supra- and sub-consciousness. To investigate the neural process relating to biofeedback, we conducted fMRI and MEG measurements from four viewpoints : (1)the state alteration of consciousness, (2)familiarization in information acquisition, (3)memory and imagery in mediation, and (4)neural activity in central nervous system to control autonomic system. In experiment (1), neural activity in bilateral prefrontal region was closely related to the alteration process. In experiment (2), auditory familiarization was correlated with the area change of active auditory region. In experiment (3), images associated with the autobiographical memory were shown to be effective in assisting the learning process in biofeedback. And in experiment (4), activity in autonomic nervous system was accompanied by activities in the limbic system and the ganglia as well as some cortical areas. Referring the results a mathematical model was proposed in which a learning system on the conscious level learns characteristics of a subconscious regulation system corresponding to the target biological function. When the learning converges, the learning system itself becomes an inverse system of the regulation system. Then, if a regulation command is put to the learning system on the conscious level, it drives the regulation system strictly following the command without the outer feedback pathway, which enables voluntary control of the biological function. The model well explains characteristics of biofeedback: addition of outer informational pathway in the learning process, a series of self-learning referring it,. and eventual acquisition of ability to voluntarily control the target biological function without the aid of the outer feedback pathway.