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This study will determine whether brain activity can be modified and improves performance on a task by showing participants live 'video feed' of their brains on advanced imaging technology. The study is particularly interested in brain regions that have been shown to be relevant for emotions, specifically the anterior insula and the medial prefrontal cortex. Advanced technology will map the brain using magnetic pulses with a real-time functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rt-fMRI) machine.
Overview: All participants of both age groups will be randomly divided (like tossing a coin) into two groups:
Further, each of these two groups will be divided into two sub-groups that are different with respect to the training procedure that is used:
* Use of a 3.0 Tesla, 32-channel Seimens whole-body human MR scanner (fMRI) during training, that has not been associated with any known side effects or safety risks
Number of Study Visits:
This study has the following parts: A pre-training visit, six training visits, and a post-training visit.
With a few exceptions as explained below, the procedures during pre-training, training, and post-training visits are identical.
The procedure can be stopped at any time.
The study will conclude with debriefing and reimbursement.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anterior insula cortex activation | Active Comparator | Participants will receive training sessions using a special feedback technique to learn to actively increase blood flow in the front of the brain, while thinking of and viewing emotional faces, scenes, and text. |
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| Primary auditory cortex activation | Active Comparator | Participants will have training sessions using a special feedback technique to learn to actively increase blood flow in the back of the brain while thinking of and viewing emotional faces, scenes, and text. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brain activity training - anterior insula | Behavioral | training sessions using a special feedback technique to learn to actively increase blood flow in the front of the brain |
|
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Increased activation of anterior insula from pre-training to post-training | Both young and older participants can be trained in up-regulation of anterior insula activity, by means of contingent neurofeedback (rt-fMRI), reflecting continued plasticity of brain regions associated with affective processing. | Pre-training session (baseline visit); post-training session (approximately one week later) |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Gained volitional control over activity in anterior insula improves emotion perception from pre-training to post-training | Participants in the experimental group compared to the control group will benefit more from neurofeedback, in that they will show relatively greater improvement in emotion perception after the rt-fMRI training, reflecting a potential for improvement of neural dysregulation related to affective processing. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Ebner, PhD | University of Florida, Department of Psychology | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida | Gainesville | Florida | 32611-2250 | United States |
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| Label | URL |
|---|---|
| Real-Time fMRI in Neuroscience Research and Its Use in Studying the Aging Brain | View source |
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| Brain activity training - medial prefrontal cortex | Behavioral | training sessions using a special feedback technique to learn to actively increase blood flow in the back of the brain |
|
| Pre-training (baseline visit); post-training visit (approximately one week later) |