Facing emotions: real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback using dynamic emotional faces to modulate amygdala activity

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Maladaptive amygdala functioning is linked to emotion regulation deficits in affective disorders.
• Real-time fMRI neurofeedback shows promise for modulating amygdala activity.
• Standard neurofeedback often uses abstract representations, limiting naturalistic application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a novel neurofeedback paradigm using naturalistic emotional faces.
• To assess the feasibility of using facial expression intensity changes to modulate amygdala activity.
• To explore bidirectional regulation of the amygdala using emotional face feedback.

Main Methods:

• 64 healthy participants completed one real-time fMRI neurofeedback session.
• Participants were assigned to happy-up, happy-down, fear-up, or fear-down groups.
• Feedback involved adjusting emotional face intensity based on amygdala activity.

Main Results:

• Significant amygdala downregulation was observed in the fear-down group.
• No significant amygdala changes occurred in happy-up or happy-down groups.
• Effective connectivity between FFA and amygdala increased in happy-up and decreased in fear-down groups.

Conclusions:

• The emotional face neurofeedback paradigm is feasible and can be tailored for emotion processing.
• Amygdala downregulation via inhibitory mOFC mechanisms was observed.
• Further research is needed to improve learning success and behavioral outcomes.