fMRI neurofeedback in the motor system elicits bidirectional changes in activity and in white matter structure in the adult human brain

Cassandra Sampaio-Baptista*, Heather F. Neyedli, Zeena-Britt Sanders, Kata Diosi, David Havard, YunYing Huang, Jesper L. R. Andersson, Michael Lührs, Rainer Goebel, Heidi Johansen-Berg

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

White matter (WM) plasticity supports skill learning and memory. Up- and downregulation of brain activity in animal models lead to WM alterations. But can bidirectional brain-activity manipulation change WM structure in the adult human brain? We employ fMRI neurofeedback to endogenously and directionally modulate activity in the sensorimotor cortices. Diffusion tensor imaging is acquired before and after two separate conditions, involving regulating sensorimotor activity either up or down using real or sham neurofeedback (n = 20 participants × 4 scans). We report rapid opposing changes in corpus callosum microstructure that depend on the direction of activity modulation. Our findings show that fMRI neurofeedback can be used to endogenously and directionally alter not only brain-activity patterns but also WM pathways connecting the targeted brain areas. The level of associated brain activity in connected areas is therefore a possible mediator of previously described learning-related changes in WM.

Original languageEnglish
Article number109890
Number of pages12
JournalCell Reports
Volume37
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Oct 2021

Keywords

  • CORTEX
  • MOVEMENT
  • MYELINATION
  • NEURONAL-ACTIVITY
  • OLIGODENDROCYTES
  • PLASTICITY
  • STROKE
  • TRAINING INDUCES CHANGES

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