title: A simultaneous modulation of reactive and proactive inhibition processes by anodal tDCS on the right inferior frontal cortex.
abstract: Proactive and reactive inhibitory processes are a fundamental part of executive functions, allowing a person to stop inappropriate responses when necessary and to adjust performance in in a long term in accordance to the goals of a task. In the current study, we manipulate, in a single task, both reactive and proactive inhibition mechanisms, and we investigate the within-subjects effect of increasing, by means of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), the involvement of the right inferior frontal cortex (rIFC). Our results show a simultaneous enhancement of these two cognitive mechanisms when modulating the neural activity of rIFC. Thus, the application of anodal tDCS increased reaction times on Go trials, indicating a possible increase in proactive inhibition. Concurrently, the stop-signal reaction time, as a covert index of the inhibitory process, was reduced, demonstrating an improvement in reactive inhibition. In summary, the current pattern of results validates the engagement of the rIFC in these two forms of inhibitory processes, proactive and reactive inhibition and it provides evidence that both processes can operate concurrently in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cunillera
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Cognition and Brain Plasticity Unit, Institute of Biomedicine Research of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fuentemilla
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brignani
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cucurell
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy; Neuroscience Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miniussi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011334:Proactive Inhibition; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D011931:Reactive Inhibition; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult