Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of the Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus Attenuates Skin Conductance Responses to Unpredictable Threat Conditions
Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-146486
- Patients with panic and post-traumatic stress disorders seem to show increased psychophysiological reactions to conditions of unpredictable (U) threat, which has been discussed as a neurobiological marker of elevated levels of sustained fear in these disorders. Interestingly, a recent study found that the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) is correlated to the successful regulation of sustained fear during U threat. Therefore this study aimed to examine the potential use of non-invasive brain stimulation to foster the rIFG by means of anodalPatients with panic and post-traumatic stress disorders seem to show increased psychophysiological reactions to conditions of unpredictable (U) threat, which has been discussed as a neurobiological marker of elevated levels of sustained fear in these disorders. Interestingly, a recent study found that the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) is correlated to the successful regulation of sustained fear during U threat. Therefore this study aimed to examine the potential use of non-invasive brain stimulation to foster the rIFG by means of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in order to reduce psychophysiological reactions to U threat. Twenty six participants were randomly assigned into an anodal and sham stimulation group in a double-blinded manner. Anodal and cathodal electrodes (7 * 5 cm) were positioned right frontal to target the rIFG. Stimulation intensity was I = 2 mA applied for 20 min during a task including U threat conditions (NPU-task). The effects of the NPU paradigm were measured by assessing the emotional startle modulation and the skin conductance response (SCR) at the outset of the different conditions. We found a significant interaction effect of condition × tDCS for the SCR (F(2,48) = 6.3, p < 0.01) without main effects of condition and tDCS. Post hoc tests revealed that the increase in SCR from neutral (N) to U condition was significantly reduced in verum compared to the sham tDCS group (t(24) = 3.84, p < 0.001). Our results emphasize the causal role of rIFG for emotional regulation and the potential use of tDCS to reduce apprehension during U threat conditions and therefore as a treatment for anxiety disorders.…
Author: | Martin J. Herrmann, Jennifer S. Beier, Bibiane Simons, Thomas Polak |
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URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-146486 |
Document Type: | Journal article |
Faculties: | Medizinische Fakultät / Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie |
Language: | English |
Parent Title (English): | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
Year of Completion: | 2016 |
Volume: | 10 |
Issue: | 352 |
Source: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 10:352. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00352 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00352 |
Dewey Decimal Classification: | 6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 616 Krankheiten |
Tag: | NPU; emotional regulation; right inferior frontalgyrus; sustained fear; transcranial direct current stimulation |
Release Date: | 2017/04/03 |
Collections: | Open-Access-Publikationsfonds / Förderzeitraum 2016 |
Licence (German): | CC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung |