Melinscak, F. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2024

SpiDa-MRI, behavioral and (f)MRI data of adults with fear of spiders

Neuroimaging has greatly improved our understanding of phobic mechanisms. To expand on these advancements, we present data on the heterogeneity of neural patterns in spider phobia combined with various psychological dimensions of spider phobia, using spider-relevant stimuli of various intensities. Specifically, we have created a database in which 49 spider-fearful individuals viewed 225 spider-relevant images in the fMRI scanner and performed behavioral avoidance tasks before and after the fMRI scan. For each participant, the database consists of the neuroimaging part, which includes an anatomical scan, 5 passive-viewing and 2 resting-state functional runs in both raw and pre-processed form along with associated quality control reports. Additionally, a behavioral section includes self-report questionnaires and avoidance tasks collected in pre- and post-sessions. The dataset is well suited for investigating neural mechanisms of phobias, brain-behavior correlations, and also contributes to the existing phobic neuroimaging datasets with spider-fearful samples. O_TBL View this table: org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@f76a39org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@15eeaa2org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@7e4f1borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@7b78f1org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@413e78_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_TBL C_TBL

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Towards fNIRS Hyperfeedback: A Feasibility Study on Real-Time Interbrain Synchrony

Social interaction is of fundamental importance to humans. Prior research has highlighted the link between interbrain synchrony and positive outcomes in human social interaction. Neurofeedback is an established method to train ones brain activity and might offer a possibility to increase interbrain synchrony. Consequently, it would be advantageous to determine the feasibility of creating a neurofeedback system for enhancing interbrain synchrony to benefit human interaction. In this study, we investigated whether the most widely employed metric for interbrain synchrony, namely wavelet transform coherence, can be assessed accurately in near real-time using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which is recognized for its mobility and ecological suitability for interactive research. To this end, we have undertaken a comprehensive approach encompassing simulations and a re-evaluation of two human-interaction datasets. Our findings indicate the potential for a stable near real-time measurement of wavelet transform coherence for integration durations of about one minute. This would align well with the methodology of an intermittent neurofeedback procedure. Our investigation lays the technical foundation for an fNIRS-based system to measure interbrain synchrony in near real-time. This advancement is crucial for the future development of a neurofeedback training system tailored to enhance interbrain synchrony to potentially benefit human interaction.

neuroscience↗