Thursday, November 5, 2009

Using Brain Imaging to Target Psychotherapy

A TED talk presented by Christopher deCharms examines the potential for using functional MRI to change brain activity.

One exciting potential for fMRI includes guided psychotherapy. The potential exists for using fMRI to identify abnormalities in brain circuits in an individual patient. Specific therapy can then be targeted to address a specific brain circuit. For example, a patient with an anxiety disorder may demonstrate hyperactivity in a brain circuit controlling the fear response. Specific cognitive tasks may be identified that reduce activity in this fear circuit. This then would allow monitoring an individual patient's response to this task. Therapy would be "successful" if it specifically reduces the hyperactivity in the patient's fear circuit.

In the TED presentation, deCharms examines the role of targeted pain response techniques for chronic physical pain. Similar strategies can be used to target the emotional pain of mental disorders.

Such applications for brain imaging are likely to be many years away. However, it is clear that imaging science is moving toward practical applications for treating mood and anxiety disorders.

Link for full screen:
Posted by Brain Posts at 10:01 AM
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