As implemented in this study, intermittent presentation of feedback is more effective than continuous presentation in promoting self-modulation of brain activity.

Furthermore, it appears that the process of evaluating feedback involves many brain regions that can be isolated using intermittent presentation. Real-time” functional MRI (RTfMRI) is used to describe the analysis of data while scans are being acquired, as opposed to the more common approach of analyzing data at some time following scanning. It has been proposed that such real-time analysis may be useful for quality monitoring, for brain-computer https://www.selleckchem.com/products/LDE225(NVP-LDE225).html interfaces, and for neurofeedback.1–5 RTfMRI feedback (RTfMRIf) provides individuals neurofeedback regarding their own brain function, thus theoretically allowing a subject or patient to dynamically self-manipulate brain activity during mental processes. There are a number of proposed research and clinical applications of RTfMRIf,4,6 yet fundamental questions surrounding the optimal procedures for RTfMRIf have not been systematically explored. Such questions include how to account for scanner signal drift and physiologic noise over time during a session, how best to select and quantify the signal to feedback, and,

perhaps most important, how to best provide the feedback to the subject.1–4,7–9 A variety of approaches have been used to present RTfMRIf, such as display of whole-brain activity,10 verbal feedback,7,11 a scrolling graph display,8,12 visual scales,13,14 and combinations of feedback display approaches.6,15 The first published report of RTfMRIf used intermittent feedback, NVP-BKM120 supplier updating a functional map after each rest-task block.10 Following EEG feedback findings,8,16 many RTfMRIf studies have used continuous feedback, in which the visual display is updated after each acquired volume.6,8,12,13,15

It is important to note that there are temporal differences between Edoxaban EEG and fMRI measurements of brain activity. The sampling rate of EEG (∼100 samples/second) is orders of magnitude faster than that of fMRI (∼.5 samples/second). Also, the EEG signal is tightly linked to neural activity in time, while fMRI measures a hemodynamic response that follows seconds after neural activity.17 The aim of this study was to directly compare an intermittent versus a continuous approach for providing feedback with RTfMRI to test whether this matters and to aid our group and others in future RTfMRIf study design. Continuous feedback theoretically may have some advantages. The more feedback that is given, the more opportunities are available to modify thoughts and brain activity to best manipulate brain function. Also, continuous feedback may provide greater interest or engagement in participating in the feedback paradigm and ensure greater attention. However, there may be some disadvantages to continuous feedback.