A real-time fMRI neurofeedback setup to reduce feedback delay in a high-strength scanner.

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 

A substantial amount of the fMRI-neurofeedback studies to date utilises continuous feedback, whereby feedback is delivered immediately after brain activity is recorded. Reducing the delay between participants’ brain activity and the delivery of feedback on their own brain function is critical to facilitate learning. The presentation will overview a pilot study on 7 participants that tested the feasibility and optimization to minimize neurofeedback delay at a ultra high field Siemens 7 Tesla scanner at the Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, The University of
Melbourne. Specific parameters trialled and implemented (e.g., selection of a priori ROIs and of confound ROIs, coding requirements, feedback parameters, real-time fMRI analysis parameters, subjective ratings, MRI sequence parameters) will be overviewed to inform on the decision making process required to inform the setup of a novel neurofeedback study to deliver fMRI-neurofeedback at the individual level.