Progress in real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback in obesity

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LI Xin SUN Yongbing ZHOU Jing HE Junya QIAO Qi LIN Xinbei ZOU Zhi LI Zhonglin WU Xiaoling ZHANG Gong LÜ Xue LI Hao HU Yangxi LI Fengli LI Yongli

Cite this article as LI X, SUN Y B, ZHOU J, et al. Progress in real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback in obesity[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2024, 15(5): 175-180. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2024.05.028.

Abstract

[Abstract] The central factor in obesity and the failure to maintain a healthy weight after weight loss is mostly food addiction, which is manifested in neuroimaging as an imbalance in the neural loop between the reward network and the cognitive control network. Real time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rtfMRI-NF), a novel biofeedback technique, has been applied in clinical research and treatment in other substance addiction fields. In food-addicted obesity rtfMRI-NF has the same potential to remodel abnormal brain functions, improve ingestive behaviors, and achieve weight loss. This review summarizes the functional magnetic resonance brain imaging models of food addiction in obese patients, explores the feasible neural targets for applying rtfMRI-NF as its potential therapeutic tool, and reviews the recent research progress of rtfMRI-NF in obesity applications, which will serve as a reference for the future therapeutic strategies and clinical guidance of rtfMRI-NF in obesity.

[Keywords] obesity；food addiction；real time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback；magnetic resonance imaging；reward function

Contributor Information

LI Xin¹ SUN Yongbing² ZHOU Jing³ HE Junya¹ QIAO Qi² LIN Xinbei² ZOU Zhi² LI Zhonglin² WU Xiaoling⁴ ZHANG Gong⁵ LÜ Xue⁶ LI Hao⁷ HU Yangxi⁸ LI Fengli⁸ LI Yongli^3*

¹ Department of Medical Imaging, Henan University People's Hospital/Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China

² Department of Medical Imaging, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China

³ Department of Health Management, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Disease, Zhengzhou 450003, China

⁴ Department of Nuclear Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital/Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China

⁵ Seven Oaks Health Management Center in Canada, China-Canada Health Engineering Research Institute, Hefei 230000, China

⁶ Department of Health Management, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China

⁷ Department of Health Management, Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China

⁸ Department of Weight Loss Metabolism, Zhengzhou Center Hospital Affiliated with Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450003, China

Corresponding author: LI Y L, E-mail: shyliyongli@126.com

Conflicts of interest None.

Publication Information

Received 2023-12-18

Accepted 2024-04-30

DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2024.05.028

Text

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