Modulatory effects of dynamic fMRI-based neurofeedback on emotion regulation networks during adolescence

This study used real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback (NF) to modulate functional connectivity patterns in the emotional regulation networks in a sample of adolescent girls. Adolescence is a developmental period which brings along changes at multiple levels, such as hormonal changes, improvements in socio-emotional processing, as well as ongoing brain maturation and functioning. It has been suggested that these changes increase the risk for the individual. For example, early, difficulties with emotion regulation have been linked to a range of mental health problems, such as anxiety. Here we successfully trained participants to modulate the functional coupling of the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala towards a more negative connectivity pattern, which resembles the connectivity pattern found in the mature brain. These brain-based changes were related to changes at the behavioural level. We also found that the modulation largely depends on the specific neurofeedback implementation, which provides important insights for future NF training approaches.