Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Advertisement

Nature Precedings
  • View all journals
  • Search
  • My Account Login
  • Content Explore content
  • About the journal
  • RSS feed
  1. nature
  2. nature precedings
  3. articles
  4. article
Mind over chatter: plastic up-regulation of the fMRI alertness network by EEG neurofeedback
Download PDF
Download PDF
  • Manuscript
  • Open access
  • Published: 02 April 2012

Mind over chatter: plastic up-regulation of the fMRI alertness network by EEG neurofeedback

  • Ruth Lanius1,
  • Tomas Ros1,
  • Jean Theberge1,
  • Paul Frewen1,
  • Rosemarie Kluetsch1,
  • Maria Densmore1 &
  • …
  • Vince Calhoun2 

Nature Precedings (2012)Cite this article

  • 1107 Accesses

  • 3 Citations

  • 1 Altmetric

  • Metrics details

Abstract

EEG neurofeedback (NFB) is a brain-computer interface (BCI) approach used to shape brain oscillations by means of real-time feedback from the electroencephalogram (EEG), which is known to reflect neural activity across cortical networks. Although NFB is being evaluated as a novel tool for treating brain disorders, evidence is scarce on the mechanism of its impact on brain function. In this study with 34 healthy participants, we examined whether, during the performance of an attentional auditory oddball task, the functional connectivity strength of distinct fMRI networks would be plastically altered after a 30-min NFB session of alpha-band reduction (n=17) versus a sham-feedback condition (n=17). Our results reveal that compared to sham, NFB induced a specific increase of functional connectivity within the alertness/salience network (dorsal anterior and mid cingulate), which was detectable 30 minutes after termination of training. Crucially, these effects were significantly correlated with reduced mind-wandering 'on-task' and were coupled to NFB-mediated resting state reductions in the alpha-band (8-12 Hz). No such relationships were evident for the sham condition. Although group default-mode network (DMN) connectivity was not significantly altered following NFB, we observed a positive association between modulations of resting alpha amplitude and precuneal connectivity, both correlating positively with frequency of mind-wandering. Our findings demonstrate a temporally direct, plastic impact of NFB on large-scale brain functional networks, and provide promising neurobehavioral evidence supporting its use as a noninvasive tool to modulate brain function in health and disease.

Similar content being viewed by others

Alpha activity neuromodulation induced by individual alpha-based neurofeedback learning in ecological context: a double-blind randomized study

Article Open access 16 September 2021

Whole-brain mechanism of neurofeedback therapy: predictive modeling of neurofeedback outcomes on repetitive negative thinking in depression

Article Open access 04 September 2024

No evidence from a negative mood induction fMRI task for frontal functional asymmetry as a suitable neurofeedback target

Article Open access 16 October 2023

Article PDF

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Western Ontario https://www.nature.com/nature

    Ruth Lanius, Tomas Ros, Jean Theberge, Paul Frewen, Rosemarie Kluetsch & Maria Densmore

  2. The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque https://www.nature.com/nature

    Vince Calhoun

Authors
  1. Ruth Lanius
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tomas Ros
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jean Theberge
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paul Frewen
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Rosemarie Kluetsch
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Maria Densmore
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Vince Calhoun
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lanius, R., Ros, T., Theberge, J. et al. Mind over chatter: plastic up-regulation of the fMRI alertness network by EEG neurofeedback. Nat Prec (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/npre.2012.7060.1

Download citation

  • Received: 31 March 2012

  • Accepted: 02 April 2012

  • Published: 02 April 2012

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/npre.2012.7060.1

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Keywords

  • neurofeedback
Download PDF

Advertisement

Explore content

  • Research articles
  • News & Comment
  • Sign up for alerts
  • RSS feed

About the journal

  • Journal Information

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

  • Explore articles by subject
  • Find a job
  • Guide to authors
  • Editorial policies

Nature Precedings (Nat Preced)

nature.com sitemap

About Nature Portfolio

  • About us
  • Press releases
  • Press office
  • Contact us

Discover content

  • Journals A-Z
  • Articles by subject
  • protocols.io
  • Nature Index

Publishing policies

  • Nature portfolio policies
  • Open access

Author & Researcher services

  • Reprints & permissions
  • Research data
  • Language editing
  • Scientific editing
  • Nature Masterclasses
  • Research Solutions

Libraries & institutions

  • Librarian service & tools
  • Librarian portal
  • Open research
  • Recommend to library

Advertising & partnerships

  • Advertising
  • Partnerships & Services
  • Media kits
  • Branded content

Professional development

  • Nature Awards
  • Nature Careers
  • Nature Conferences

Regional websites

  • Nature Africa
  • Nature China
  • Nature India
  • Nature Japan
  • Nature Middle East
  • Privacy Policy
  • Use of cookies
  • Legal notice
  • Accessibility statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Your US state privacy rights
Springer Nature

© 2025 Springer Nature Limited

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing