Causal evidence for the role of prefrontal theta oscillations in emotion regulation using neurofeedback training

IF 4.5 2区医学 Q1 NEUROIMAGING

NeuroImage Pub Date : 2025-09-12 DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121457

Yiwei Li , Sijin Li , Yuyao Tang , Shuai Hao , Dandan Zhang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Prefrontal theta oscillations play a critical role in cognitive control processes that facilitate emotion regulation. However, causal evidence linking their modulation to improved emotion regulation outcomes remains limited.

Results

Using a double-blind, randomized controlled design, this study demonstrates that EEG neurofeedback (NF) targeting prefrontal theta oscillations significantly enhances emotion regulation abilities. Participants in the experimental group exhibited specific upregulation of prefrontal theta power during NF training, leading to reduced negative emotional ratings and diminished late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes. Mediation analysis further revealed that NF-induced enhancements in prefrontal theta power partially mediated the relationship between training efficiency and emotion regulation benefits.

Conclusion

These findings underscore the theoretical significance of prefrontal theta oscillations as a core mechanism of cognitive control in emotional contexts. This study advances our understanding of the neural underpinnings of emotion regulation and highlights theta-NF as a promising, non-invasive intervention for enhancing emotional resilience.

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前额叶θ波振荡在神经反馈训练中情绪调节作用的因果证据。

背景：前额叶θ波振荡在促进情绪调节的认知控制过程中起着关键作用。然而，将它们的调节与改善的情绪调节结果联系起来的因果证据仍然有限。结果：采用双盲、随机对照设计，研究表明脑电图神经反馈（NF）对前额叶θ波振荡的影响显著提高了情绪调节能力。实验组的参与者在NF训练中表现出前额叶θ波能量的特异性上调，导致负面情绪评分降低和晚期正电位（LPP）振幅降低。中介分析进一步发现，神经刺激诱发的前额叶θ波功率增强在训练效率和情绪调节效益之间起部分中介作用。结论：这些发现强调了前额叶θ波振荡作为情绪情境下认知控制的核心机制的理论意义。这项研究促进了我们对情绪调节的神经基础的理解，并强调了- nf是一种有前途的、非侵入性的增强情绪恢复力的干预手段。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

NeuroImage 医学-核医学

CiteScore

11.30

自引率

10.50%

发文量

809

审稿时长

63 days

期刊介绍： NeuroImage, a Journal of Brain Function provides a vehicle for communicating important advances in acquiring, analyzing, and modelling neuroimaging data and in applying these techniques to the study of structure-function and brain-behavior relationships. Though the emphasis is on the macroscopic level of human brain organization, meso-and microscopic neuroimaging across all species will be considered if informative for understanding the aforementioned relationships.