Augmenting Mindfulness Training Through Experience-driven Neurofeedback Devices (

描述（由申请人提供）：通过经验驱动的神经反馈设备（ATTEND）增强正念训练。冥想是美国第二大最常用的身心疗法，对压力、焦虑、抑郁和成瘾有明显的临床疗效。然而，冥想状态的神经生物学标记还没有被清楚地描绘出来。缺乏评估正念的客观工具是进一步科学进步的根本障碍。后扣带皮层（PCC）最近被确定为一个有前途的基于神经成像的冥想标记，因为这个大脑区域在压力和走神期间被激活，但在正念期间被停用（Brewer 2011）。与此同时，实时功能磁共振成像神经反馈（RTFB）的方法学进步允许从PCC提供反馈，以增强传统上通过基于正念的减压（MBSR）计划提供的冥想获取。在拟议的研究中，目标1将确认PCC失活对应于冥想的主观体验。为了实现这一点，将在24名有经验的冥想者中测量PCC活动，这是一个4步系列的fMRI任务，从（1）冥想，（2）模拟RTFB的冥想，（3）从PCC的RTFB冥想，到（4）PCC活动的意志失活。我们预计，在第三步中，冥想者将报告PCC活动减少与主观冥想之间的高度对应关系，并能够通过第四步中的冥想自愿地停用他们的PCC。这些数据将证实PCC是冥想状态的敏感神经影像学标记。目标2将证明，从PCC的RTFB增强MBSR评估PCC在冥想过程中失活。为了达到这个目的，129名冥想新手将被随机分为三组。第1组：来自PCC的具有RTFB训练的MBSR，第2组：来自对照区域的具有RTFB训练的MBSR，或第3组：单独的MBSR。我们预计，第一组在冥想过程中会显示出明显更大的正念减压前后PCC信号百分比变化。这些结果将证明RTFB可以增强MBSR训练。目标3将表明，来自PCC的带有RTFB的MBSR导致减少压力和提高注意力。将使用感知压力量表（PSS）测量压力，使用快速视觉信息处理任务（RVIP）测量注意力，在MBSR前后和3个月随访时。我们预计，从目标2开始的冥想过程中PCC的信号变化百分比将预测MBSR前后和MBSR后3个月的PSS和RVIP评分的变化。这些结果将表明，RTFB增强MBSR改善认知和健康相关的结果，如压力。这个项目对社会有许多好处，因为它将是第一个确认冥想的神经目标，并将这些知识转化为通过增强MBSR来改善健康的策略。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Augmenting Mindfulness Training Through Experience-driven Neurofeedback Devices (ATTEND). Meditation is the second most frequently used mind-body therapy in the US, with demonstrated clinical benefits for stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. However, no neurobiological markers of meditative states have been clearly delineated. The lack of objective tools for assessing mindfulness is a fundamental obstacle to further scientific progress. The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) has recently been identified as a promising neuroimaging-based marker of meditation, as this brain region is activated during stress and mind-wandering, but deactivated during mindfulness (Brewer 2011). At the same time, methodological advances in real-time fMRI neurofeedback (RTFB) allow delivery of feedback from the PCC to augment meditation acquisition that is traditionally delivered through Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs. In the proposed study, Aim 1 will confirm that PCC deactivation corresponds to the subjective experience of meditation. To achieve this, PCC activity will be measured in 24 experienced meditators in a 4-step series of fMRI tasks progressing from: (1) meditation, (2) meditation with simulated RTFB, (3) meditation with RTFB from the PCC, to (4) volitional deactivation of PCC activity. We anticipate that meditators will report a high correspondence between decreased PCC activity and subjective meditation in Step 3 and will be able to volitionally deactivate their PCC by meditation in Step 4. These data will confirm the PCC as a sensitive neuroimaging marker of the meditative state. Aim 2 will demonstrate that RTFB from the PCC augments MBSR as assessed by PCC deactivation during meditation. To achieve this, 129 novice meditators will be randomized to three groups. Group 1: MBSR with RTFB training from the PCC, Group 2: MBSR with RTFB training from a control region, or Group 3: MBSR alone. We anticipate that Group 1 will show significantly greater pre- to post-MBSR percent signal change in the PCC during meditation. These results will demonstrate that RTFB can augment MBSR training. Aim 3 will show that MBSR with RTFB from the PCC leads to reduced stress and improved attention. Stress will be measured using the perceived stress scale (PSS), and attention will be measured using the Rapid Visual Information Processing task (RVIP), pre- and post-MBSR, and at a 3-month follow-up. We anticipate that percent signal change in the PCC during meditation from Aim 2 will predict change in PSS and RVIP scores pre- to post-MBSR and pre- to 3 months post-MBSR. These results will demonstrate that RTFB augmentation of MBSR improves cognition and health-related outcomes such as stress. This project has numerous benefits for society, as it will be the first to confirm neural targets of meditation, and to translate this knowledge into strategies to improve health through augmentation of MBSR.