Baseline Functional Connectivity Between Default Mode Network And Auditory Cortex Predicts Improvement In Auditory Hallucination Following Real-Time Neurofeedback In Schizophrenia

Auditory hallucination (AH) is a core feature of schizophrenia and may be medication-resistant. It is hypothesized that schizophrenia patients have aberrantly high functional connectivity between the auditory cortex (i.e., superior temporal gyrus, STG) and the anterior hub of the default mode network (i.e., medial prefrontal cortex, MPFC), resulting in heightened attention to internally generated auditory perceptions. We have previously demonstrated AH reduction following fMRI-based neurofeedback targeting the STG, a technique in which individuals use real-time feedback about STG activity to volitionally modulate activity in that area. In this study, we investigated whether baseline MPFC-STG connectivity predicted AH change post-neurofeedback.