This study demonstrates that individuals can learn to control activation in specific brain regions using real-time functional MRI (rtfMRI), which could lead to control over pain perception. The research shows that subjects can learn to control activation in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), a region involved in pain perception and regulation. When subjects deliberately increased or decreased rACC activation, there was a corresponding change in their perception of pain caused by a noxious thermal stimulus. Control experiments showed that this effect was not observed when training was conducted without rtfMRI information or using information from a different brain region. Chronic pain patients who underwent similar training reported decreases in their chronic pain levels after training. These findings suggest that individuals can gain voluntary control over activation in a specific brain region with appropriate training, and that this control can lead to changes in pain perception. The study also shows that these effects were powerful enough to impact severe, chronic clinical pain. The research highlights the potential of rtfMRI-based training as a new approach for treating pain and other neurological conditions. The study involved healthy volunteers and chronic pain patients, with the latter undergoing training to control activation in the rACC. The results indicate that rtfMRI-based training can be an effective tool for pain management, offering a new avenue for neuroimaging therapy. The study also discusses the potential applications of rtfMRI in both research and clinical settings, including the investigation of various interventions and the improvement of treatment outcomes. The research underscores the importance of understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying pain perception and regulation, and the potential of targeted neuroplasticity through training to enhance pain control. The study concludes that rtfMRI-based training has the potential to provide a new approach for treating pain and other neurological conditions, offering a promising avenue for neuroimaging therapy.This study demonstrates that individuals can learn to control activation in specific brain regions using real-time functional MRI (rtfMRI), which could lead to control over pain perception. The research shows that subjects can learn to control activation in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), a region involved in pain perception and regulation. When subjects deliberately increased or decreased rACC activation, there was a corresponding change in their perception of pain caused by a noxious thermal stimulus. Control experiments showed that this effect was not observed when training was conducted without rtfMRI information or using information from a different brain region. Chronic pain patients who underwent similar training reported decreases in their chronic pain levels after training. These findings suggest that individuals can gain voluntary control over activation in a specific brain region with appropriate training, and that this control can lead to changes in pain perception. The study also shows that these effects were powerful enough to impact severe, chronic clinical pain. The research highlights the potential of rtfMRI-based training as a new approach for treating pain and other neurological conditions. The study involved healthy volunteers and chronic pain patients, with the latter undergoing training to control activation in the rACC. The results indicate that rtfMRI-based training can be an effective tool for pain management, offering a new avenue for neuroimaging therapy. The study also discusses the potential applications of rtfMRI in both research and clinical settings, including the investigation of various interventions and the improvement of treatment outcomes. The research underscores the importance of understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying pain perception and regulation, and the potential of targeted neuroplasticity through training to enhance pain control. The study concludes that rtfMRI-based training has the potential to provide a new approach for treating pain and other neurological conditions, offering a promising avenue for neuroimaging therapy.