FNIRS Neurofeedback Targeting the lPFC Effectively and Sustainably Reduces Depressive Symptoms
Poster No:
48
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Chao Yan1, Jing-wen Yang2, Ke-shuang Li2, Peng-yuan Yang3, Yu-jia Xu2, Xian-chun Li2
Institutions:
1School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China, 2East China Normal University, Shanghai, China, 3Tilburg University, Tilberg, Netherland
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Subthreshold depression (SD) is a prevalent condition characterized by the presence of depressive symptoms that are significant enough to cause distress or functional impairment but do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD)(Zhang et al., 2023). While various interventions have been designed to alleviate depressive symptoms in individuals with SD, evidence supporting effective and sustainable treatments remains limited. In this study, we utilized a non-invasive real-time neurofeedback (NF) technique based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), targeting the lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC), to assess its short- and long-term efficacy and to investigate the underlying mechanism in alleviating depressive symptoms in individuals with SD.
Methods:
Eighty-eight individuals with SD, identified by a Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score exceeding 18, were recruited and randomly divided into three groups: lPFC neurofeedback (NF) group (N = 59) and a non-intervention group (N = 29). Participants in the lPFC group underwent two neurofeedback training sessions and one transfer session (without feedback) using the ETG-4100 system (Hitachi Medical System, Tokyo, Japan) within one week. Participants were instructed to make the bird fly upward under light blue conditions and remain level or descend under dark blue conditions, thereby learning to regulate activity in their targeted lPFC (See Figure 1). In contrast, the non-intervention group did not receive any training during this period. Depression severity, anhedonia symptoms, and reward representation ability were assessed at baseline and post-intervention using the Chinese versions of the BDI-II(Beck et al., 1996), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD, Hamilton, 1980), Anhedonia Scale for Adolescents (ASA), and Reward Representation and Maintenance Task (RRMT, Wang et al., 2020). Additionally, the BDI-II was administered to all SD participants three months after the intervention.
·Figure 1. The Scheme of“Happy Bird” Neurofeedback Protocol
Results:
Given the considerable variability in participants' ability to regulate the lPFC, we applied Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Residual Calculation, and Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) analyses to classify participants into two groups: Upward Trend (those showing positive change points in activation of the target regions, N = 37) and Non-Upward Trend (N = 29). Mixed-design ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between Time and Group on scores of both the BDI-II(F (3.19, 125.88) = 5.032, p = .002) and the HAMD (F(2,70) = 15.55, p ＜ .001). At the post-intervention phase, participants in the Upward Trend group had significantly lower BDI scores and the HAMD score than those in the Non-Upward Trend group (ps < .001) and the Non-intervention group (ps < .001). Notably, the BDI score three-month after training for the Upward Trend group was significantly lower than that of the Non-intervention group (p = 015). Furthermore, a significant interaction between Time and Group was observed on the Effort, Motivation, and Drive subscale of the ASA (F(2, 85) = 4.842, p = .010). Simple effect analyses revealed that the Upward Trend group scored significantly lower than both the Non-intervention group (p < .001) and the Non-Upward Trend group (p < .003) during post-intervention phase. Regarding the RRMT, it revealed a significant decrease in the Mismatch Ratio (MR) for the middle magnitude in the Upward Trend group during the post-intervention session compared to the baseline, reflected by significant Time × Group × Magnitude interaction effect (F(4, 166) = 3.00, p = .020).(See Figure 2)
·Figure 2. Improvement of depressive symptoms, ahendonia symptoms and reward representation maintenance
Conclusions:
Neurofeedback intervention targeting the lPFC region effectively reduces depressive symptoms in SD individuals who demonstrate improvement during the intervention, with effects persisting over time. Enhancements in reward representation maintenance and reductions in anticipatory anhedonia may underlie this sustained alleviation of depressive symptoms.
Brain Stimulation:
Non-Invasive Stimulation Methods Other 1
Disorders of the Nervous System:
Psychiatric (eg. Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia) 2
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Reward and Punishment
Keywords:
DISORDERS
Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy (NIRS)
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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Hamilton, M. (1980). Rating depressive patients. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 41(12 Pt 2), 21–24.
Wang, L., Yan, C., Shao, Y., Lv, Q., Neumann, D., Ettinger, U., Cheung, E. F. C., Yi, Z., & Chan, R. C. K. (2020). Revisiting anticipatory hedonic processing in patients with schizophrenia: An examination between representation activation and maintenance. Schizophrenia Research, 216, 138–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.12.013
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