A research on resting-state functional network connectivity after rt-fMRI neurofeedback in insomnia

Using resting-state functional connectivity based on regions of interest to explore connectivity changes between specific brain regions and the whole brain in insomnia patients after real-time functional magnetic resonance neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) therapy has the limitation that the brain information used is not comprehensive enough. While the use of functional network connectivity (FNC) can more systematically and effectively explore the effect of neurofeedback intervention on brain activity in patients with insomnia. In this paper, we used independent component analysis (ICA) method to reveal the spatial properties of brain networks in the whole brain of insomnia patients, then examined and compared the FNC before and after rt-fMRI neurofeedback. The whole-brain FNC results show that the functional connectivity between the executive control network (ECN) and salience network (SAN), default mode network (DMN) were significantly decreased, while the connectivity between the DMN and the SAN was increased. In summary, rt-fMRI neurofeedback training for insomnia patients alters intrinsic functional network connectivity, which may provide objective neuroimage evidence for emotion and sleep improvement in insomnia patients.