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

神经反馈是指受试者监测自己在特定大脑区域的神经活动，并获得任意控制神经活动水平的能力的方法。最近，随着实时功能磁共振成像的发展，对皮层下和其他脑深部区域以及与高阶脑功能相关区域的神经活动的自我监测成为可能。本研究的目的是开发基于实时功能磁共振成像的神经反馈的社会认知改善任务。很明显，广泛性发育障碍（PDD）受试者能够通过神经反馈训练增加杏仁核活动，并且为了有意控制杏仁核活动，脑岛和MPFC的同时活动是必要的。此外，经过神经反馈训练后，杏仁核的神经敏感性增加。

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.