Abstract #1181

Probing Distraction to Cognitive Control Using Real-Time fMRI

Jeremy F. Magland¹, Anna Rose Childress²

¹Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; ²Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Real-time functional MRI (rtfMRI) feedback can potentially provide therapeutic cognitive training for various disorders. In the case of addiction therapy, the feedback paradigm design is especially challenging because asking patients to alternate between craving and non-craving states is not ideal. Here we introduce a new indirect rtfMRI feedback paradigm for probing cognitive control in real time and measuring disruption in the face of various distractions cues. Preliminary results suggest that distraction effects can be detected in real time for both patients and controls, and that participants may be able to use neurofeedback to learn to stay focused despite distraction.