The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Prefrontal Cortex on Antisocial Behavior
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 进行中（未招募）
- 入组人数
- 101
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Delay discounting rates after stimulation
研究概览
简要总结
The main objective of this study is to investigate the causal relationship between prefrontal cortex activity and antisocial behavior, as well as risk factors for antisocial behavior. Specifically, this study tests the hypothesis that upregulating activity in the prefrontal cortex through a non-invasive form of brain stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will reduce antisocial and aggressive behavior. The effects of 3 days of anodal stimulation over the prefrontal cortex are assessed.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Basic Science
- 盲法
- Double (Participant, Investigator)
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Above 18 (with parental consent) or above 21 (without parental consent)
- •Able to understand the nature of the study and give informed consent
排除标准
- •History of or active neurologic, cardiovascular, or psychiatric disease including anxiety disorders (e.g., PTSD, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder) and mood disorders (e.g., depression)
- •Currently consuming anti-convulsant, anti-psychotic, or sedative/hypnotic medications
- •Currently consuming anti-depressants
- •History of seizures
- •Metallic implants on scalp
- •Participated in any other non-invasive brain stimulation study in the same day
- •Ever had an adverse reaction to tDCS
研究组 & 干预措施
Anodal stimulation
Participants in the active stimulation group will undergo anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). tDCS will be delivered by a battery-driven, constant-current stimulator connected to two saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. An anodal electrode (25cm2) will be placed over the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and one cathodal electrode (35cm2) will be placed over the occipital cortex. Scalp electrodes will be positioned according to the 10-20 EEG international system. A current of 2mA will be applied for 20 minutes and the current will be ramped up and down over 30 seconds at the beginning and end of the stimulation period.
干预措施: Transcranial direct current stimulation (Device)
Sham stimulation
The sham tDCS condition will involve the same placement of the electrodes, current intensity, and ramp-up/down time as the active tDCS condition, but stimulation will only last for 30 seconds.
干预措施: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (Device)
结局指标
主要结局
Delay discounting rates after stimulation
时间窗: Within 1 hour after the third consecutive active tDCS or sham session
Participants' responses to 5 questions indicating if they would prefer a smaller reward today or a larger reward in the specified number of days will be assessed. The delay discount rates (k) of monetary rewards will be calculated based on the responses to the 5 trials.
Points in the Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm after stimulation
时间窗: Within 1 hour after the third consecutive active tDCS or sham session
The number of points earned on the lab task will be assessed.
Helping behavior after stimulation
时间窗: Within 1 hour after the third consecutive active tDCS or sham session
This will be assessed based on the number of easy and hard puzzles participants choose to assign to another participant in the study.
Antisocial behavior after stimulation
时间窗: Within 1 hour after the third consecutive active tDCS or sham session
This will be assessed based on the participants' accurate reporting of the number of problems correctly solved in a task.
Moral judgment ratings after stimulation
时间窗: Within 1 hour after the third consecutive active tDCS or sham session
This will be assessed using 5 hypothetical scenarios in which someone commits a criminal or antisocial act. Participants will rate the moral wrongfulness of the act in the scenario on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 10 (very). A higher score reflects a greater perception of moral wrongfulness regarding the antisocial act.
Antisocial behavior inclinations after stimulation
时间窗: Within 1 hour after the third consecutive active tDCS or sham session
This will be assessed using 5 hypothetical scenarios in which someone commits a criminal or antisocial act. Participants will respond to the likelihood that they would commit the act in the scenario according to a 10-point Likert scale. Responses are measured on a scale ranging from zero (no chance at all) to 10 (100% chance). A higher value reflects a greater intention to engage in the antisocial act.
次要结局
- Number of participants with adverse events(Within 1 hour after each of the 20-minute active tDCS or sham sessions)
研究者
Olivia Choy
Assistant Professor
Nanyang Technological University