Augmenting Mindfulness Training Through Experience-driven Neurofeedback Devices (

描述（由申请人提供）：通过体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，临床证明对压力、焦虑、抑郁和成瘾有好处。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）最近被认为是一个很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时被激活，但在正念时被关闭（Brewer 2011）。与此同时，实时fMRI神经反馈（RTFB）方法的进步允许从PCC传递反馈，以增强传统上通过正念减压（MBSR）项目传递的冥想获取。在拟议的研究中，Aim 1将证实PCC失活与冥想的主观体验相对应。为了实现这一目标，将对24名有经验的冥想者进行四步fMRI任务，包括：(1)冥想，(2)模拟RTFB冥想，(3)从PCC进行RTFB冥想，以及(4)PCC活动的自愿失活。我们预计冥想者将在步骤3中报告减少的PCC活动与主观冥想之间的高度对应，并且能够通过步骤4中的冥想自愿地停用PCC。这些数据将证实PCC是一种敏感的冥想状态的神经成像标记。目标2将证明，通过冥想期间PCC的失活来评估，来自PCC的RTFB增强了正念减压。为了达到这个目的，129名冥想新手将被随机分为三组。第一组：正念减压与来自PCC的RTFB训练，第二组：正念减压与来自控制区的RTFB训练，或者第三组：单独进行正念减压。我们预计，在冥想期间，第一组在正念减压前和后PCC的百分比信号变化明显更大。这些结果将证明RTFB可以增强正念减压训练。目的3将表明正念减压与来自PCC的RTFB导致压力减少和注意力提高。在3个月的随访中，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。我们预计，目标2中冥想期间PCC信号变化的百分比将预测正念减压前后和正念减压后3个月前PSS和RVIP评分的变化。这些结果将证明，正念减压的RTFB增强可以改善认知和与健康相关的结果，如压力。这个项目对社会有很多好处，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正念减压来改善健康的策略。

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.