tDCS over the Left Prefrontal Cortex Enhances Cognitive Control for Positive Affective Stimuli

Author(s)

Vanderhasselt, Marie-Anne ^[1] ; De Raedt, Rudi ^[1] ; Brunoni, Andre R. ^{[2, 3]} ; Campanha, Camila ^{[4, 5]} ; Baeken, Chris ^{[6, 7, 8]} ; Remue, Jonathan ^[1] ; Boggio, Paulo S. ^{[4, 5]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Ghent, Dept Expt Clin & Hlth Psychol, B-9000 Ghent - Belgium

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Clin Res Ctr, Univ Hosp, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Psychol, Dept Neurosci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Prebiteriana Mackenzie, Dev Disorders Program, Ctr Hlth & Biol Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Prebiteriana Mackenzie, Social & Cognit Neurosci Lab, Ctr Hlth & Biol Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Brussels, Brussels - Belgium

^[7] Univ Ghent, Dept Psychiat & Med Psychol, B-9000 Ghent - Belgium

^[8] Univ Hosp UZBrussel, Dept Psychiat, Brussels - Belgium

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 8, n. 5 MAY 21 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 45

Abstract

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulation technique with promising results for enhancing cognitive information processes. So far, however, research has mainly focused on the effects of tDCS on cognitive control operations for non-emotional material. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the effects on cognitive control considering negative versus positive material. For this sham-controlled, within-subjects study, we selected a homogeneous sample of twenty-five healthy participants. By using behavioral measures and event related potentials (ERP) as indexes, we aimed to investigate whether a single session of anodal tDCS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) would have specific effects in enhancing cognitive control for positive and negative valenced stimuli. After tDCS over the left DLPFC (and not sham control stimulation), we observed more negative N450 amplitudes along with faster reaction times when inhibiting a habitual response to happy compared to sad facial expressions. Gender did not influence the effects of tDCS on cognitive control for emotional information. In line with the Valence Theory of side-lateralized activity, this stimulation protocol might have led to a left dominant (relative to right) prefrontal cortical activity, resulting in augmented cognitive control specifically for positive relative to negative stimuli. To verify that tDCS induces effects that are in line with all aspects of the well known Valence Theory, future research should investigate the effects of tDCS over the left vs. right DLPFC on cognitive control for emotional information. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/20063-9 - Gender and empathy as modulators of social decision processes: a behavioral and electrophysiological study
• Grantee: Camila Campanhã
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate