[Experience of the Continuous Real Time fMRI Biofeedback of the Primary Motor Cortex Using a 1.5 T MR Scanner]

The neurofeedback based on the motor areas fMRI signal may be a promising treatment for improving motor impairment in post-stroke conditions and Parkinson's disease. In the majority of the studies has been conducted using the 3 T MR machines, and the region of interest has been placed to the secondary motor areas. The current study attempted to perform an fMRI neurofeeback based on response of the right hand projection locus within primary motor cortex utilizing the 1.5 T MR scanner and using the optimal parameters for the named magnetic field strength. The subjects were 16 healthy participants who underwent a 30-minute imaging session comprised 1) individual func- tional localization of the region of interest (using the hand clinging task) and attempts to control its activity with 2) motor imagery and 3) any cognitive strategy chosen by participant. In both self-regulation conditions subjects activated G. precentralis, G. cinguli anterior, G. frontalis superior, G. parietalis inferior, and 6-th Brodman area. Activation maps for these two tasks didn't differ one from another significantly, and the involved area had only a few overlays with the region of interest map which signifies that training was unsucessful. The limitations of the study and factors influenc- ing the biofeedback efficacy negatively are discussed.