This study investigates the effect of upregulating prefrontal cortex activity on risk-taking, and antisocial and aggressive behavior in violent offenders. In the double-blind, randomized controlled trial, using a within-subject crossover design, each participant will undergo anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and sham stimulation. After each stimulation session, neural activity and behavioral responses to tasks assessing risk-taking and aggressive behavior will be recorded. The effect of tDCS on violent offenders will also be assessed in comparison to age and gender-matched healthy controls.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
41
Transcranial direct current stimulation will be administered for 20 minutes using a CE approved stimulator (NeuroConn, Ilmenau, Germany).
The same device will be used as in the active stimulation group, but stimulation will be terminated after 30 seconds.
Uniklinik RWTH Aachen
Aachen, Germany
Number of balloon pumps in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task after stimulation
The number of balloon pumps, measured by the number of times subjects press a button to pump up a computerized balloon over 60 trials, will be assessed.
Time frame: Within 1 hour after the 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends
Neural activity during Balloon Analogue Risk Task after stimulation
Functional brain activity and connectivity will be assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Time frame: Within 1 hour after the 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends
Aggressive behavior after stimulation
This will be assessed according to performance on the violent video game, Carmageddon: TDR 2000 (Klasen et al., 2013; Torus Games, Bayswater, Australia, 2000) in comparison to a modified non-violent version of the game.
Time frame: Within 1 hour after the 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends
Neural activity during aggression task after stimulation
Functional brain activity and connectivity during participation in the video game will be assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Time frame: Within 1 hour after the 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends
Antisocial behavior inclinations after stimulation
This will be assessed using 8 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.
Time frame: Within 1 hour after the 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends
Number of participants with adverse events
The number of participants reporting the experience of sensations resulting from tDCS will be recorded.
Time frame: Within 1 hour after the 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends
Ratings of guilt or shame regarding antisocial acts after stimulation
This will be assessed using 8 hypothetical scenarios in which someone commits a criminal or antisocial act. Participants will respond to the likelihood that they would feel a sense of guilt or shame according to a 10-point Likert scale.
Time frame: Within 1 hour after the 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends
Ratings of moral wrongfulness regarding antisocial acts after stimulation
This will be assessed using 8 hypothetical scenarios in which someone commits a criminal or antisocial act. Participants will rate the moral wrongfulness of the acts according to a 10-point Likert scale.
Time frame: Within 1 hour after the 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends
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