Instrumental Learning of Anterior Insular Cortex Activity with Real-time fMRI in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jan Born, since 7/2016
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 267306953

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) form a heterogeneous, neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by dramatic impairments of interpersonal behavior, communication, and empathy. It has been suggested that dysfunctional anterior insula activity may play a critical role for emotional and social impairment observed in patients with ASD. A number of instrumental learning studies using real-time fMRI feedback showed that healthy participants and patients can achieve successful regulation of insular cortex that in turn is associated with changes in behaviour and brain connectivity. I here propose the use of real-time fMRI feedback approach for training individuals with ASD to learn self-regulation of anterior insular cortex in order to enhance interoceptive sensitivity, emotional awareness, and possibly socio-communicative abilities.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr.-Ing. Andrea Caria, Ph.D., until 7/2016