The Effect of Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior

University of Pennsylvania84 enrolled

Overview

This study investigates the effect of upregulating prefrontal cortex activity on antisocial and aggressive behavior and risk factors for such behavior. In the double-blind, randomized controlled trial, participants will undergo anodal transcranial direct current stimulation bilaterally to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or a sham stimulation. During and after stimulation, they will complete survey and laboratory measures assessing antisocial and aggressive behavior and risk factors for antisocial and aggressive behavior. Heart rate and skin conductance will also be measured.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Antisocial Behavior Aggression

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Above 18 years of age * Able to understand the nature of the study and give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * History of or active neurologic, cardiovascular, or psychiatric disease * Currently consuming anti-convulsant, anti-psychotic, or sedative/hypnotic medications * Currently consuming anti-depressants * History of seizures * Metallic implants on the scalp * Participation in other transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or tDCS experiments on the same day * History of adverse reactions to tDCS

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Antisocial Behavior Inclinations at 24 Hours

This will be assessed using hypothetical scenarios in which someone commits a criminal or antisocial act. The two brief scenarios describe a physical assault and a sexual assault. Participants will respond to the likelihood that they would commit the act in the scenario according to a 10-point Likert scale. Responses were measured on a scale ranging from zero (no chance at all) to ten (100 percent chance). Scores for both scenarios were summed to obtain an overall measure of intentions to commit aggression. Possible scores range from 0 to 20. A higher value indicates a greater inclination to engage in the antisocial act.

Time frame: Baseline (an average of 15 minutes before receiving tDCS or sham) and on average, 24 hours following stimulation or sham

Number of Pins Inserted Into a Virtual Voodoo Doll at 24 Hours

The number of pins (between 0 and 51) that participants decide to insert into a picture of a voodoo doll on a computer that represents either a romantic partner or close friend will be recorded on average 24 hours after receiving tDCS or sham stimulation.

Time frame: On average, 24 hours after the tDCS or sham session