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增强正念训练（参加）。冥想是美国第二常用的身心疗法，已被证明对缓解压力、焦虑、抑郁和成瘾具有临床益处。然而，冥想状态的神经生物学标记尚未被明确描述。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）最近被认为是一种有前途的基于神经影像的冥想标记，因为该大脑区域在压力和走神时被激活，但在正念时被停用（Brewer 2011）。与此同时，实时 fMRI 神经反馈 (RTFB) 方法的进步允许从 PCC 提供反馈，以增强传统上通过正念减压 (MBSR) 项目提供的冥想习得。在拟议的研究中，目标 1 将确认 PCC 停用与冥想的主观体验相对应。为了实现这一目标，将在 4 个步骤系列的 fMRI 任务中测量 24 名经验丰富的冥想者的 PCC 活动，从以下顺序进行：(1) 冥想，(2) 使用模拟 RTFB 进行冥想，(3) 使用来自 PCC 的 RTFB 进行冥想，到 (4) 有意识地停用 PCC 活动。我们预计冥想者将在步骤 3 中报告 PCC 活动减少与主观冥想之间的高度对应性，并且能够在步骤 4 中通过冥想自愿停用 PCC。这些数据将证实 PCC 作为冥想状态的敏感神经影像标记。目标 2 将证明来自 PCC 的 RTFB 增强了 MBSR（通过冥想期间 PCC 停用来评估）。为了实现这一目标，129 名冥想新手将被随机分为三组。第 1 组：带有来自 PCC 的 RTFB 训练的 MBSR，第 2 组：带有来自控制区域的 RTFB 训练的 MBSR，或第 3 组：单独的 MBSR。我们预计第 1 组在冥想期间 PCC 中的 MBSR 前后百分比信号变化将显着更大。这些结果将证明 RTFB 可以增强 MBSR 训练。目标 3 将表明 MBSR 和 PCC 的 RTFB 可以减轻压力并提高注意力。压力将使用感知压力量表 (PSS) 进行测量，注意力将使用快速视觉信息处理任务 (RVIP) 在 MBSR 之前和之后以及 3 个月的随访中进行测量。我们预计，目标 2 冥想期间 PCC 的信号变化百分比将预测 MBSR 前后以及 MBSR 后 3 个月内 PSS 和 RVIP 分数的变化。这些结果将证明 RTFB 增强 MBSR 可以改善认知和压力等健康相关结果。该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正念冥想来改善健康的策略。

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.