以阶层控制理论建立新式实时功能磁共振神经反馈治疗酒精成瘾患者

Alcohol dependence has caused a serious issue in many modern nations and the number of drinking population in China has been increasing gradually. In addition to the conventional drug and psychological therapies, neurofeedback (NF) has been also regarded as one of the possible treatments these years. One of the most influential theories in addition literature proposes that the addiction symptoms are associated with reduced activation in the executive control network of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the exact roles of separate PFC regions relating to addiction remain unclear. Hierarchical control theory proposes that rostro-caudal distinctions in PFC serve different levels of cognitive control properties. Similarly, drug cue is suggested to provoke various aspects of drug-related associations in memory through conditioning and these association processes are largely overlapping with distinct hierarchical control processes. Thus, addictive content elicited by drug cue can be regulated by one of the hierarchical control processes. However, past NF studies rarely consider this issue (drug cue eliciting distinct content). Without a precise NF signal, searching the right strategy during NF might be difficult, which could limit the treatment effect. Accordingly, the project aims to strengthen the control processes directly. Distinct neural patterns defined by hierarchical control processes will be served as NF training signal. In general, the project will establish this NF task first and confirm its short- and long-term treatment effects. The effects will be assessed through contrasting pre- and post-training tests and are expected to be manifest in some NF groups. The results could suggest a possible treatment model in addiction and demonstrate the usefulness of a hierarchical control theory-driven approach NF in understanding addiction. Overall, the project has practical and theoretical significances.

酒瘾是现代社会一个严重的问题，我国喝酒的人数也在逐年增加。除了传统的药物和心理治疗之外，近年来，新式的神经反馈技术也是一个可能的方向。目前主流的成瘾研究认为成瘾症状与前额叶执行功能的下降有关，但其不同区域的损伤与成瘾的关系仍不清楚。前额叶区域可以应用阶层控制理以不同层次的信息处理过程加以细分。不同阶层的信息处理与成瘾线索引发不同层次的渴求内容这一过程很类似，因此可以对线索诱发的内容进行更精准的调节。但之前的神经反馈研究未以信息加工的角度来设计，可能导致病人无法找到更好的学习策略，限制了治疗效果进一步的提升。因此，本项目欲基于阶层控制理论做训练增强，以不同阶层控制相关的神经网络作为反馈训练信号。本项目首先建立新式的神经反馈范式，确立其短期和长期的治疗效果；其次，根据训练前后测及不同反馈组的比较，借助阶层控制理论的心理与神经机制阐释治疗成瘾的可能机制。综上，本项目具有重要的实际和理论价值。

药物成瘾是现代社会一个严重的问题。除了传统的药物和心理治疗之外，近年来，新式的神经反馈技术也是一个可能的方向。目前主流的成瘾研究认为成瘾症状与前额叶执行功能的下降有关，但其不同区域的损伤与成瘾的关系仍不清楚。前额叶区域可以应用阶层控制理以不同层次的信息处理过程加以细分。不同阶层的信息处理与成瘾线索引发不同层次的渴求内容这一过程很类似，因此可以对线索诱发的内容进行更精准的调节。但之前的神经反馈研究未以信息加工的角度来设计，可能导致病人无法找到更好的学习策略，限制了治疗效果进一步的提升。因此，在本项目的支持下我们进行了包括对成瘾与阶层控制理论关系的神经机制、特定效果的实时功能磁共振系统搭建和将该系统应用到对成瘾病人的干预中，三个方面的研究目标内容。已经发表了4篇相关SCI文章，获得国家发明专利1项、软件著作权1项，申请PCT1项。研究结果不仅加深了对成瘾机制的理解，更发展了一套可能被用于成瘾及其他精神疾病干预的神经反馈新系统。