Abstract #0512

Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback of the Amygdala Enhances Amygdala-orbitofrontal Connectivity and Lateralized EEG Coherence in Veterans with Combat-related PTSD

Vadim Zotev¹, Raquel Phillips¹, Masaya Misaki¹, Chung Ki Wong¹, Brent Wurfel¹, Matthew Meyer^1,2, Frank Krueger^1,3, Matthew Feldner^1,4, and Jerzy Bodurka^1,5

¹Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, United States, ²Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital, Tulsa, OK, United States, ³Neuroscience Dept., George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States, ⁴Dept. of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States, ⁵College of Engineering, Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK, United States

We have performed a study of emotion regulation training in veterans with combat-related PTSD using real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI-nf) with simultaneous EEG. Eighteen PTSD patients learned to upregulate their left amygdala activity using rtfMRI-nf during a positive emotion induction task based on retrieval of happy autobiographical memories. Enhancement in the amygdala-orbitofrontal functional connectivity during the rtfMRI-nf task showed positive correlation with severity of PTSD symptoms. Enhancement in left-lateralized upper alpha EEG coherence also positively correlated with PTSD severity. These results suggest that the rtfMRI-nf of the amygdala has the potential to correct the functional connectivity deficiencies specific to PTSD.

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