Real-time fMRI feedback guides self-generated cognition toward upregulation of hippocampal activity.

In two experiments, contingent feedback helped participants learn mental strategies that increased activity in the targeted hippocampal region during one session. This demonstrates target engagement, not improved memory, symptoms or daily function.

van de Langenberg SCN, Gurevitch G, Markovits T, Singer N, Ben-Yakov A, Hendler T, Schwabe L.
Current Biology · Publication date: 2026-10-01
Added to site: 2026-10-02
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2026.09.015

Electronic publication date verified in PubMed. Crossref records October 2026 at month precision. This source date is separate from the site's addition date.

Modalities

Neurofeedback, fMRI, Biofeedback

Clinical focus

Hippocampal activity, Self-generated cognition, Target engagement

Population

Human participants learning self-generated mental strategies during a single neurofeedback session; clinical diagnoses were not described in the checked abstract

Sample

141 participants across two studies

Intervention / method

Real-time feedback contingent on hippocampal activity was paired with self-generated mental strategies and repeated upregulation attempts within one training session

Comparator

Yoked sham feedback with similar task instructions; the connected entorhinal cortex also served as an untargeted regional comparison

Clinician summary

Contingent feedback significantly enhanced upregulation across hippocampal subfields relative to yoked sham feedback, while the untargeted entorhinal cortex did not show the same effect. Later successful runs were associated with network-pattern shifts during subsequent movie viewing.

How to interpret the findings

The abstract does not provide study-specific denominators, effect sizes, allocation details, adverse-event results or durability beyond the session. Outcomes were neural activity and later pattern shifts rather than clinical symptoms, memory performance or functional benefit.

Equipment and disclosures

Real-time fMRI was used for region-specific feedback. Scanner, analysis software and feedback-display details were not available in the checked abstract.

The indexed record states that the authors declared no competing interests. Crossref identifies German Research Foundation support.

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