Echtzeit-Neurofeedback auf den Ruhezustand des Gehirns: Evaluation des therapeutischen Nutzens zur Anfallsreduktion bei Epilepsie

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Esther Florin
• Subject Area: Human Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience
• Term: from 2012 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 216734379

During the past decade, a connectivity map of brain activity during rest has been identified in humans using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The complete functional relevance of this resting-state (RS) network is not known, but recent evidence suggests its significance for the brain’s function and dysfunction. The proposed project takes a multimodal viewpoint on the RS network (i) to better understand the electrophysiological correlates of RS blood-oxygen level dependent fluctuations, (ii) to demonstrate interactions of RS networks with other brain systems, and (iii) to show how therapeutic interventions can benefit from this research. These issues will be analyzed through the lens of medial temporal lobe epilepsy. The specific working hypothesis is that epilepsy alters the spatial and dynamical properties of the RS. It is conjectured that by using advanced neurofeedback, patients can be trained to modulate their RS-activity and thereby reduce their seizure rate. During the first stage, the current knowledge of the RS will be improved by identifying the RS network using time-resolved magnetoencephalography (MEG) source reconstruction. By using MEG source reconstruction, it is intended to identify the connectivity between the different brain areas involved in the RS and the temporal evolution of the RS. This is currently not possible due to fMRI’s low temporal resolution. The second stage intends to demonstrate that by using a new technique of MEG neurofeedback, whereby feedback is provided on the activity of certain brain regions and the connectivity between them, control subjects are able to modulate the spatio-temporal structure of RS networks. Finally a therapeutic perspective is taken: epileptic patients will be trained through neurofeedback to target specific features of their RS activity, e. g., to change the spectral or effective connectivity properties of a targeted brain region. The goal of this training will be to reduce the seizures rate.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Canada
• Host: Professor Sylvain Baillet, Ph.D.