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Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research

Date Submitted: Jul 26, 2024
Date Accepted: Jan 10, 2025

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Modulation of Dopaminergic Midbrain Activity in Young Adults With Elevated Internet Gaming Disorder Risk: Randomized Controlled Trial

Gu A, Chan CL, Xu X, Dexter JP, Becker B, Zhao Z

Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Modulation of Dopaminergic Midbrain Activity in Young Adults With Elevated Internet Gaming Disorder Risk: Randomized Controlled Trial

J Med Internet Res 2025;27:e64687

DOI: 10.2196/64687

PMID: 39879613

PMCID: 11822309

Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Modulation of Dopaminergic Midbrain Activity in Young Adults With Elevated Internet Gaming Disorder Risk: Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Anqi Gu; 
  • Cheng Lam Chan; 
  • Xiaolei Xu; 
  • Joseph P Dexter; 
  • Benjamin Becker; 
  • Zhiying Zhao

This study provides preliminary evidence for real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rt-fMRI NF) as a potential intervention approach for internet gaming disorder (IGD). In a preregistered, randomized, single-blind trial, young individuals with elevated IGD risk were trained to downregulate gaming addiction–related brain activity. We show that, after 2 sessions of neurofeedback training, participants successfully downregulated their brain responses to gaming cues, suggesting the therapeutic potential of rt-fMRI NF for IGD (Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06063642; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06063642).


 Citation

Please cite as:

Gu A, Chan CL, Xu X, Dexter JP, Becker B, Zhao Z

Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Modulation of Dopaminergic Midbrain Activity in Young Adults With Elevated Internet Gaming Disorder Risk: Randomized Controlled Trial

J Med Internet Res 2025;27:e64687

DOI: 10.2196/64687

PMID: 39879613

PMCID: 11822309

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