Tinnitus Treatment: Looks Like MRI Neurofeedback is Better than CBT

Research published Radiology shows that "patients with severe chronic tinnitus who underwent real-time functional MRI neurofeedback therapy showed reduced tinnitus burden 6 months after intervention compared with patients who received group cognitive behavioral therapy."

That could be a game-change because right now, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the standard treatment. If this preliminary is right, then real-time functional MRI (fMRI) neurofeedback therapy may actually be more effective.

So what exactly is functional magnetic resonance imaging? Neurofeedback therapy is a form of brain training that utilizes real-time feedback of brain activity as measured by fMRI scans to help individuals learn to regulate their brain function.

Here's how it typically works:

fMRI Scanning: The individual undergoing neurofeedback therapy lies inside an fMRI scanner. The scanner monitors changes in blood flow and oxygenation in different regions of the brain, providing real-time images of brain activity.

Feedback Display: The fMRI machine processes this information and provides real-time feedback to the individual, usually in the form of visual or auditory cues. For example, certain brain regions might be represented as colors on a screen, with the goal being to increase or decrease the activity in those regions.

Training Protocol: The individual is instructed to engage in specific mental activities or strategies that are associated with desired changes in brain activity. For instance, they might be asked to visualize calming scenes or to focus on specific thoughts or emotions.

Self-Regulation: By observing the real-time feedback provided by the fMRI machine, the individual learns to adjust their mental processes in order to modulate their brain activity. Over time and with practice, they may become better able to voluntarily control their brain function.

Therapeutic Goals: Neurofeedback therapy can be applied to various therapeutic goals, such as alleviating symptoms of psychiatric disorders like depression or anxiety, improving attention and focus in conditions like ADHD, managing chronic pain, or enhancing cognitive function and performance.

Feedback and Progress Tracking: Throughout the course of therapy, clinicians monitor the individual's progress and adjust the training protocols as needed. They may also provide guidance and support to help the individual develop effective self-regulation strategies.

While fMRI neurofeedback therapy holds promise as a non-invasive method for influencing brain function, it's still a relatively novel and experimental approach. Research into its effectiveness and potential applications is ongoing, and it's important to note that individual responses to neurofeedback can vary. Additionally, access to fMRI technology and expertise in conducting neurofeedback therapy may be limited in some settings.

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