Decoded fMRI neurofeedback can induce bidirectional behavioral changes within single participants

Studies using real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) have recently incorporated the decoding approach, allowing for fMRI to be used as a tool for manipulation of fine-grained neural activity. Because of the tremendous potential for clinical applications, certain questions regarding decoded neurofeedback (DecNef) must be addressed. Neurofeedback effects can last for months, but the short- to mid-term dynamics are not known. Specifically, can the same subjects learn to induce neural patterns in two opposite directions in different sessions? This leads to a further question, whether learning to reverse a neural pattern may be less effective after training to induce it in a previous session. Here we employed a within-subjects' design, with subjects undergoing DecNef training sequentially in opposite directions (up or down regulation of confidence judgements in a perceptual task), with the order counterbalanced across subjects. Behavioral results indicated that the manipulation was strongly influenced by the order and direction of neurofeedback. We therefore applied nonlinear mathematical modeling to parametrize four main consequences of DecNef: main effect of change in behavior, strength of down-regulation effect relative to up-regulation, maintenance of learning over sessions, and anterograde learning interference. Modeling results revealed that DecNef successfully induced bidirectional behavioral changes in different sessions. Furthermore, up-regulation was more sizable, and the effect was largely preserved even after an interval of one-week. Lastly, the second week effect was diminished as compared to the first week effect, indicating strong anterograde learning interference. These results suggest reinforcement learning characteristics of DecNef, and provide important constraints on its application to basic neuroscience, occupational and sports trainings, and therapies.