Putamen volume predicts real‐time fMRI neurofeedback learning success across paradigms and neurofeedback target regions

Abstract

Real‐time fMRI guided neurofeedback training has gained increasing interest as a noninvasive brain regulation technique with the potential to modulate functional brain alterations in therapeutic contexts. Individual variations in learning success and treatment response have been observed, yet the neural substrates underlying the learning of self‐regulation remain unclear. Against this background, we explored potential brain structural predictors for learning success with pooled data from three real‐time fMRI data sets. Our analysis revealed that gray matter volume of the right putamen could predict neurofeedback learning success across the three data sets (n = 66 in total). Importantly, the original studies employed different neurofeedback paradigms during which different brain regions were trained pointing to a general association with learning success independent of specific aspects of the experimental design. Given the role of the putamen in associative learning this finding may reflect an important role of instrumental learning processes and brain structural variations in associated brain regions for successful acquisition of fMRI neurofeedback‐guided self‐regulation.

Pathological fear, anxiety and negative affect exhibit distinct neurostructural signatures: evidence from psychiatric neuroimaging meta-analysis

“…While the conventional TMS stimulation approach is limited to the stimulation of cortical surface regions, other approaches such as real-time fMRI-informed neurofeedback may allow to modulate cortical and subcortical regions. Recent preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of real-time fMRI-informed neurofeedback to modulate brain systems and circuits traditionally implicated in internalizing disorders [ 135 , 174 , 175 ] and suggest that the neurofeedback training success is associated with variations in regional GMV [ 176 ]. The efficacy of these interventions can benefit from the identification of robust and disorder-specific therapeutic targets from our comparative meta-analyses or other approaches (e.g., lesion network mapping [ 177 ]).…”

Feasibility of training the dorsolateral prefrontal-striatal network by real-time fMRI neurofeedback

“…On the other hand, rt-fMRI NF is completely non-invasive, is able to address very specific and complex phenotypes in the brain, and has the potential to evoke changes in FC 59 . To avoid unnecessary costs, it will be important to identify predictors of successful NF training (see for example 14 , 60 ) to inform precise individualized treatment approaches.…”

Right Cortical Infarction and a Reduction in Putamen Volume May Be Correlated with Empathy in Patients after Subacute Ischemic Stroke—A Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

“…A study of macaque monkeys showed that deep and superficial cortical white matter neurons, peri-claustral white matter neurons, and the claustrum proper project to the putamen [ 26 ]. Moreover, Zhao et al showed that the putamen may play an important role in instrumental learning processes, and that structural variations of associated brain regions are required for the successful acquisition of functional MRI neurofeedback-guided self-regulation [ 27 ]. The involvement of the unilateral putamen in various language components suggests that it may play a role in language [ 28 ].…”