Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026
A Protocol for the Administration of Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training
Published on: August 24, 2017
Decoded fMRI neurofeedback can induce bidirectional confidence changes within single participants.
Aurelio Cortese1, Kaoru Amano2, Ai Koizumi3
1Department of Decoded Neurofeedback, ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories, Kyoto, Japan; Faculty of Information Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara, Japan; Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet), NICT, Osaka, Japan; Department of Psychology, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA.
Participants can learn to regulate neural patterns in opposite directions using decoded neurofeedback (DecNef). However, subsequent training sessions show reduced effectiveness due to prior learning interference.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) enables multi-voxel pattern decoding for neurofeedback.
- Decoded neurofeedback (DecNef) offers potential for manipulating fine-grained neural activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if participants can learn bidirectional neural pattern induction using DecNef.
- To examine the impact of prior learning on subsequent DecNef effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- A within-subjects design with two counterbalanced DecNef training sessions for opposing behavioral changes (confidence regulation).
- Nonlinear mathematical modeling to analyze learning effects, directionality, maintenance, and interference.
Main Results:
- DecNef successfully induced bidirectional confidence changes within participants.
- Up-regulation effects were more prominent than down-regulation; changes were maintained for a week.
- Second training sessions showed diminished effectiveness, indicating strong anterograde learning interference.
Conclusions:
- DecNef can train opposing neural patterns within individuals.
- Anterograde learning interference significantly impacts subsequent DecNef sessions.
- Findings have implications for neuroscience, training, and therapeutic applications.
