Frontostriatal circuitry as a target for fMRI-based neurofeedback interventions: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neurology

Background:

• Frontostriatal circuitry dysregulation is implicated in various psychiatric and neurological disorders.
• Neurofeedback is an experimental paradigm used to modify this circuitry.
• The frontostriatal system comprises limbic, associative, and motor subsystems governing affective, cognitive, and motor functions.

Approach:

• Systematic review of 79 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-based neurofeedback studies targeting frontostriatal circuitry.
• Assessment of neurofeedback efficacy based on imaging, behavioral, and clinical outcomes.
• Evaluation of neurofeedback targets in relation to frontostriatal subsystems.

Key Points:

• Most studies targeted specific brain regions like the anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and supplementary motor area.
• Few studies directly targeted frontostriatal connectivity (n=14), though post-hoc analyses were more common (n=32).
• Neurofeedback is predominantly used to alter brain activations within the frontostriatal circuitry.

Conclusions:

• Connectivity-based neurofeedback paradigms are suggested for modifying the frontostriatal system due to its regulatory mechanisms.
• Consideration of the frontostriatal system's anatomical and functional organization is crucial when selecting neurofeedback targets.
• Future research should prioritize connectivity-based approaches for more effective modulation of frontostriatal circuitry.