Altering risky decision-making: Influence of impulsivity on the neuromodulation of prefrontal cortex.
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) subserves complex cognitive abilities, including risky decision-making; the modulation of this brain area is shown to alter the way people take risks. Yet, neuromodulation of the PFC in relation to risk-taking behavior remains relatively less well-studied. Moreover, the psychological variables that influence such neuromodulation remain poorly understood. To address these issues, 16 participants took part in 3 experimental sessions on separate days. They received: (i) left anodal-right cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS); (ii) left cathodal-right anodal stimulation; or (iii) sham stimulation while they completed two risk-taking tasks. They also measured on several cognitive-affective abilities and personality traits. It was revealed that left cathodal-right anodal stimulation led to significantly reduced risk-taking under a context of haste. The reduction of risk-taking (relative to sham) correlated with state and trait impulsivity, such that the effect was larger in more impulsive individuals. For these individuals, the tDCS effect size was considered to be large (generalized partial η(2) > .17). The effect of prefrontal-neuromodulation in reducing risk-taking was influenced by baseline impulsivity, reflecting a state-dependent effect of neuromodulation on the PFC. The results of this study carry important insights into the use of neuromodulation to alter higher cognition.
a Laboratory of Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.|b Laboratory of Cognitive Affective Neuroscience , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.|c Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.
Gordon L F
GL
Cheng
a Laboratory of Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.|b Laboratory of Cognitive Affective Neuroscience , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.|c Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.|d The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.
Tatia M C
TM
Lee
D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
Barratt Impulsivity Scale; Frontal lobe; Risky decision-making; Stroop; Transcranial direct current stimulation