The Effect of Repeated Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior

University of Pennsylvania32 enrolled

Overview

This study investigates the relationship between prefrontal cortex activity and antisocial and aggressive behavior, and risk factors for such behavior. In the double-blind, randomized controlled trial, participants will undergo three sessions of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or sham stimulation and complete survey and laboratory measures assessing antisocial behavior and risk factors. 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

Transcranial direct current stimulationDEVICE

Sham transcranial direct current stimulationDEVICE

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: * 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

Locations (1)

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of Pins Inserted Into a Virtual Voodoo Doll After 48 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.

Time frame: On average, 48 hours after the first 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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