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Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure
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Within- and Between-Session Prefrontal Cortex Response to Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Acrophobia
Aleksandra Landowska1, David Roberts1, Peter Eachus1
1Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|November 17, 2018
Summary
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) shows promise for treating phobias by engaging patients. This study used novel neuroimaging to measure brain activity during VRET, revealing changes in the prefrontal cortex during exposure.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Virtual Reality Technology
Background:
- Exposure Therapy (ET) and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) are effective for phobias, anxiety, and PTSD but face engagement challenges.
- Existing neuroimaging methods for ET/VRET lack ecological validity due to movement restrictions and obscured environments.
- Previous research measured brain function post-VRET; this study measures neural activity *during* VRET sessions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain activity changes within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during VRET sessions for acrophobia.
- To assess the feasibility of using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) with Immersive Projection Technology (IPT) for real-time neuroimaging during VRET.
- To enhance the ecological validity of neuroimaging in understanding treatment engagement and neural responses.
Main Methods:
- 13 acrophobic volunteers underwent three VRET sessions involving walking on a virtual plank.
- Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) measured oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentrations in the PFC during exposure.
- Data analyzed for changes in PFC activity across the three exposure blocks.
Main Results:
- Initial exposure showed decreased activity in the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) and medial PFC (MPFC).
- PFC activity gradually increased towards normal levels across the three consecutive exposure sessions.
- fNIRS successfully measured within-session neural responses to virtual stimuli.
Conclusions:
- VRET combined with fNIRS offers a more ecologically valid method for measuring neural responses during therapy.
- This approach has the potential to improve understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders like phobias, anxiety, and PTSD.
- The fNIRS-IPT system is a cost-effective and clinically adaptable alternative to fMRI for immersive neuroimaging.
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