<p>Firstly, you wouldn't be directly controlling neurotransmitter.  From the human perspective, you'd be controlling higher-level events (and they aren't necessarily describable on more than a phenomenological level).  Of course, this would also lead to some changes in neurotransmitter release, but in a complex way: that's all handled at a lower level by the cells.</p>

<p>That being said, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurofeedback" rel="nofollow">neurofeedback</a> is a (the?) clinical practice that most closely matches your question.  If you look at the references in the wiki page I linked, you will see lots of papers reporting on the findings and techniques.  I do not know the current state of the research.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-27T07:14:53.533Z
Yes the subjects would control the neurotransmitter levels indirectly. I want to know if there is any theoretical reason why this would be not possible, and if not so, is there a device that could allow continuous monitoring of a subject's neurotransmitter levels.
Justas
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-27T12:13:33.137Z
Neurotransmitter levels are determined by metabolic processes and demand.  Humans control whole systems of their body, not individual cells or molecules, so the original thread you linked is, as far as I know, as close as you're going to get.  But there, you'd be controlling the whole system and neurotransmitter levels would just be a consequence.
Keegan Keplinger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-26T22:58:22.043Z
2013-12-26T22:58:22.043Z
Keegan Keplinger
<p>Turns out this is possible with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdialysis" rel="nofollow">microdialysis</a>. Microdialysis uses small probes that can continuously sample the concentrations of target compounds (i.e. neurotransmitters when embedded in a brain). </p>

<p>In theory, though somewhat invasively, one could insert a few of these probes in a person's brain, display the neurotransmitter concentrations on a computer screen, and train the subject to change the neurotransmitter concentrations through his/her thoughts as they would in a bio-feedback setup. </p>

<p>If the concentrations are associated with some neurological disease (i.e. depression, anxiety, schizophrenia), the subject could learn to alter their neurotransmitter levels, and possibly reduce their symptoms, without the use of pharmacological interventions and their associated side-effects.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-10T05:49:28.153Z
2014-12-10T05:49:28.153Z
Justas
<p>According to <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/96/research-suggesting-conscious-control-over-brain-region-activation">this thread</a>, certain regions of the brain, and even some distributed activation patterns can be up/down regulated via bio-feedback.</p>

<p>Is it possible in theory and is there any research where subjects were taught to consciously control neurotransmitter (e.g. serotonin, dopamine, etc...) levels?</p>

<p>It seems that doing so would present with alternatives to pharmacological methods of altering neurotransmitter levels in treatment of various mood and cognitive disorders.</p>

<neuroscience><neuroimaging><health-psychology>
Neurotransmitter control via biofeedback?
Justas
# Neurotransmitter control via biofeedback?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-26)

According to [this thread](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/96/research-suggesting-conscious-control-over-brain-region-activation), certain regions of the brain, and even some distributed activation patterns can be up/down regulated via bio-feedback.

Is it possible in theory and is there any research where subjects were taught to consciously control neurotransmitter (e.g. serotonin, dopamine, etc...) levels?

It seems that doing so would present with alternatives to pharmacological methods of altering neurotransmitter levels in treatment of various mood and cognitive disorders.

**Tags:** neuroscience, neuroimaging, health-psychology


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-26. Score: 4

Firstly, you wouldn't be directly controlling neurotransmitter. From the human perspective, you'd be controlling higher-level events (and they aren't necessarily describable on more than a phenomenological level). Of course, this would also lead to some changes in neurotransmitter release, but in a complex way: that's all handled at a lower level by the cells.

That being said, [neurofeedback](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurofeedback) is a (the?) clinical practice that most closely matches your question. If you look at the references in the wiki page I linked, you will see lots of papers reporting on the findings and techniques. I do not know the current state of the research.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes the subjects would control the neurotransmitter levels indirectly. I want to know if there is any theoretical reason why this would be not possible, and if not so, is there a device that could allow continuous monitoring of a subject's neurotransmitter levels.  
> **username_1**: Neurotransmitter levels are determined by metabolic processes and demand.  Humans control whole systems of their body, not individual cells or molecules, so the original thread you linked is, as far as I know, as close as you're going to get.  But there, you'd be controlling the whole system and neurotransmitter levels would just be a consequence.  

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### Answer by username_0 on 2014-12-10. Score: 1

Turns out this is possible with [microdialysis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdialysis). Microdialysis uses small probes that can continuously sample the concentrations of target compounds (i.e. neurotransmitters when embedded in a brain).

In theory, though somewhat invasively, one could insert a few of these probes in a person's brain, display the neurotransmitter concentrations on a computer screen, and train the subject to change the neurotransmitter concentrations through his/her thoughts as they would in a bio-feedback setup.

If the concentrations are associated with some neurological disease (i.e. depression, anxiety, schizophrenia), the subject could learn to alter their neurotransmitter levels, and possibly reduce their symptoms, without the use of pharmacological interventions and their associated side-effects.


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