title: Hemispheric dorsolateral prefrontal cortex lateralization in the regulation of empathy for pain.
abstract: The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is involved in the cognitive appraisal and modulation of the pain experience. In this sham-controlled study, with healthy volunteers, we used bi-hemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the DLPFC to assess emotional reactions elicited by pain observation. Left-cathodal/right-anodal tDCS decreased valence and arousal evaluations compared to other tDCS conditions. Compared to sham condition, both left-cathodal/right-anodal and left-anodal/right-cathodal tDCS decreased hostility, sadness and self-pain perception. These decreased sensations after both active tDCS suggest a common role for left and right DLPFC in personal distress modulation. However, the differences in arousal and valence evaluations point to distinct roles of lateralized DLPFC in cognitive empathy, probably through distinct emotion regulation mechanisms.
authors: Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 01241-001 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Gabriel G
authors: GG
authors: Rêgo
authors: Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 01241-001 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Olívia M
authors: OM
authors: Lapenta
authors: Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 01241-001 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Lucas M
authors: LM
authors: Marques
authors: Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 01241-001 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Thiago L
authors: TL
authors: Costa
authors: Bouve College of Health Sciences, Department of Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Neuropsychophysiology Lab - CIPsi School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Leite
authors: Bouve College of Health Sciences, Department of Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Neuropsychophysiology Lab - CIPsi School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Carvalho
authors: Bouve College of Health Sciences, Department of Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Neuropsychophysiology Lab - CIPsi School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors: Óscar F
authors: ÓF
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation (SIN), Department and Institute of Psychiatry and University Hospital, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: André R
authors: AR
authors: Brunoni
authors: Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Felipe
authors: F
authors: Fregni
authors: Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 01241-001 Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: boggio@mackenzie.br.
authors: Paulo S
authors: PS
authors: Boggio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001143:Arousal; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D011680:Pupil / Q000502:physiology; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; Emotion regulation; Pain empathy; Physical pain; Pupil dilation; Transcranial direct current stimulation