The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether real-time fNIRS-BCI neurofeedback targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (right DLPFC), using active volitional control during a slow-wave auditory acoustic paradigm, can suppress cardiac sympathetic activity and improve autonomic regulation in right-handed patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) and comorbid DSM-5 anxiety.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does real neurofeedback, compared with sham, reduce baseline-corrected heart rate during the auditory stimulation window? Does real neurofeedback, compared with sham, increase HRV spectral power around 0.0167 Hz (1/60 Hz) and produce stronger suppression of right DLPFC activation? Does suppression of right DLPFC activation mediate the effect of group assignment on heart rate?
If there is a comparison group: Researchers will compare the real neurofeedback group with the sham (non-contingent) feedback group, which uses identical audio and interface, to determine whether coupling feedback to right DLPFC activity yields autonomic benefits.
Participants will:
Complete eligibility screening in cardiology and psychiatry and provide informed consent; baseline demographics, medical history, vital signs, and medications are recorded (HAMA/HAMD used for eligibility only).
Undergo a 3-day adaptation phase to practice active volitional self-regulation while viewing a real-time energy bar mapped to right DLPFC statistics; adaptation data are not analyzed for outcomes.
Attend two formal sessions (Days 4-5), each with 15 blocks of 60 s (20 s rest + 40 s stimulus). The auditory stimulus is a 1 Hz amplitude-modulated pure tone at approximately 60 dB; 10-second white-noise bursts are randomly embedded within the 40-second window. During the stimulation period, participants receive real or sham feedback on right DLPFC activation and act to push the energy bar below an unlabeled threshold line using active volitional strategies.
Undergo synchronous fNIRS (HbO) and 3-lead ECG (1,000 Hz) recording throughout; online processing and rendering performance metrics are logged; adverse events are monitored and managed per protocol.
Age >18 years, any sex.
Right-handed, with resting heart rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute.
Diagnosis of an anxiety disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) score ≥16 and 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) score ≤17.
Acute unstable angina.
Severe congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class IV).
Valvular heart disease.
History of atrial fibrillation.
Shenyang Medical College
Lead sponsor
The Second Hospital of Shenyang Medical College
Collaborator