Training the social brain: Clinical and neural effects of an 8-week real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback Phase IIa Clinical Trial in Autism.
Bruno DireitoSusana MougaAlexandre SayalMarco SimõesHugo QuentalInês BernardinoRebecca PlayleRachel McNamaraDavid E J LindenGuiomar OliveiraMiguel Castelo-BrancoPublished in: Autism : the international journal of research and practice (2021)
Neurofeedback is an emerging therapeutic approach in neuropsychiatric disorders. Its potential application in autism spectrum disorder remains to be tested. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging volitional neurofeedback in targeting social brain regions in autism spectrum disorder. In this clinical trial, autism spectrum disorder patients were enrolled in a program with five training sessions of neurofeedback. Participants were able to control their own brain activity in this social brain region, with positive clinical and neural effects. Larger, controlled, and blinded clinical studies will be required to confirm the benefits.
Keyphrases
- autism spectrum disorder
- magnetic resonance imaging
- clinical trial
- intellectual disability
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- resting state
- healthcare
- white matter
- mental health
- end stage renal disease
- functional connectivity
- study protocol
- ejection fraction
- computed tomography
- peritoneal dialysis
- contrast enhanced
- cerebral ischemia
- prognostic factors
- randomized controlled trial
- open label
- double blind
- magnetic resonance
- multiple sclerosis
- placebo controlled
- cancer therapy
- drug delivery
- quality improvement
- patient reported outcomes
- brain injury