The covariation of independent and dependant variables in neurofeedback: a proposal framework to identify cognitive processes and brain activity variables.

A methodological framework for analyzing the relationship between cognitive processes and brain activity uses variables measured by neurofeedback (NF) with functional Magnetic Resonance Imagery (fMRI NF). Two traditional approaches, the neuropsychological (NP) and psychophysiology (PP) approaches, treat cognitive or brain variables as dependent or independent. The article suggests that NF can be inspired by neurophenomenology, because fMRI NF lets participants simultaneously experience their own cognitive processes and observe effects on brain region activations. Implementing the elicitation interview method could improve fMRI NF by collecting participants' introspective reports on subjective experiences.

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Abstract

This methodological article proposes a framework for analysing the relationship between cognitive processes and brain activity using variables measured by neurofeedback (NF) carried out by functional Magnetic Resonance Imagery (fMRI NF). Cognitive processes and brain activity variables can be analysed as either the dependant variable or the independent variable. Firstly, we propose two traditional approaches, defined in the article as the "neuropsychological" approach (NP) and the "psychophysiology" approach (PP), to extract dependent and independent variables in NF protocols. Secondly, we suggest that NF can be inspired by the style of inquiry used in neurophenomenology. fMRI NF allows participants to experiment with his or her own cognitive processes and their effects on brain region of interest (ROI) activations simultaneously. Thus, we suggest that fMRI NF could be improved by implementing "the elicitation interview method", which allows the investigator to gather relevant verbatim from participants' introspection on subjective experiences.