Can't quiet your mind? Watching your brain might help

Mental health conditions, such as depression and schizophrenia, have traditionally been treated with medication, but researchers at Northeastern University are exploring a new approach: using neurofeedback. This technique involves giving patients a real-time view of their brain activity to help them learn how to change it.

Clemens Bauer Hoss, a professor at the university, was inspired to investigate this method after struggling to master meditation himself. He believes that providing people with feedback on their brain activity could make meditation more effective. Neurofeedback achieves this by using sensors on the scalp to measure the brain's electrical activity and translating it into visual or auditory feedback.

One type of neurofeedback, electroencephalography (EEG), measures the brain's electrical activity through sensors on the scalp and translates it into a moving graphic or changing sound. Another type, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), uses a powerful magnet to track which parts of the brain are receiving oxygen-rich blood. By comparing these signals, researchers can track brain activity during tasks.

In their research, Bauer Hoss and his colleagues used fMRI-based neurofeedback to help people with schizophrenia learn meditation. The technique involves a diagnostic scan to identify specific brain networks, such as the default mode network (DMN), which is involved in self-focused thought, and the executive network, which is active during decision-making and focused attention. During meditation, the goal is to reduce activity in the DMN and increase activity in the executive network.

In a recent study, Bauer Hoss found that people with schizophrenia and treatment-resistant hallucinations experienced a reduction in symptoms lasting up to two weeks after using neurofeedback. Additionally, adolescents with depression showed reduced brain activity associated with depression. Another ongoing study with bipolar patients is showing promising results.

Bauer Hoss is now exploring whether neurofeedback could act as a form of preventive mental health treatment for people at high risk for psychiatric disorders, such as those with a family history of schizophrenia. While neurofeedback has shown promise, there are practical challenges, including the size and cost of the equipment and the claustrophobic environment of the fMRI scanner. Bauer Hoss is working on developing a more portable alternative to make this technique more accessible.