Use of Real-Time Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Neurofeedback to Downregulate Insular Cortex in Nicotine-Addicted SmokersMohit Rana 1,2, Sergio Ruiz 1,2, Andrea Sánchez Corzo 1,2, Axel Muehleck 4, Sandra Eck 4, César Salinas 5, Francisco Zamorano 5,6, Claudio Silva 5, Massimiliano Rea 4, Anil Batra 4, Niels Birbaumer 1,7,8, Ranganatha Sitaram 1,2,9
1Departamento de Psiquiatría, Escuela de Medicina, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2Laboratory for Brain-Machine Interfaces and Neuromodulation, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 3Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, 4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, 5Unidad de Imágenes Cuantitativas Avanzadas, Departamento de Imaágenes, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, 6División de Neurociencia, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, 7Institute di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, 8Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering, 9Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
In real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI), brain activity is experimentally manipulated as an independent variable, and behavior is measured as a dependent variable. The protocol presented here focuses on the practical use of rtfMRI as a therapeutic tool for psychiatric disorders such as nicotine addiction.