Real time BOLD functional MRI neuro-feedback affects functional connectivity

Functional connectivity in the resting state based on BOLD functional MRI (fMRI) has been used mainly to observe brain networks while subjects ‘do nothing’. The same principle, however, can be used for any other steady-state brain condition. In this study, we compared the connectivity of the motor area during simple finger tapping with and without real time neuro-feedback of the activation in the hand motor area. The presence of the neuro-feedback not only induces correlations between the visual and motor areas, but also increases basal ganglia involvement and bilateral motor cortex connectivity.