Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Targeting the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Reduces Reactive Aggression and Modulates Electrophysiological Responses in a Forensic Population

Sergiou, Carmen S.; Santarnecchi, Emiliano; Romanella, Sara M.; Wieser, Matthias J.; Franken, Ingmar H. A.; Rassin, Eric; Dongen, Josanne D. M. van

doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.05.007

Cited by 17 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 161 publications

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“…Considering the electrophysiological results, we only found a significant effect of condition for the LPP; however, no significant differences between the groups were found on the P3, LPP and alpha ERD/ mu suppression. The fact that we found a condition effect for only the LPP, and not for the other electrophysiological measures is not in line with prior work using the same task [ 75 , 87 ]. Moreover, the fact that no differences between the groups were found was not in line with our expectations, since earlier studies did find attenuated P3 and LPP amplitudes in affective picture viewing to be related to antisocial personality and delinquency [ 75 , 88 , 89 ].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 69%

“…Third, the validity of the task to induce emotional arousal in aggression versus neutral conditions was questionable in the current study. However, previous studies using the same picture task did find support for its validity [ 75 , 87 ]. It may however be that the passive viewing task is less suitable to induce changes, in particular, neurobiological indices such as HR and RSA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

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Neurobiological Responses towards Stimuli Depicting Aggressive Interactions in Delinquent Young Adults and Controls: No Relation to Reactive and Proactive Aggression

et al. 2022

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Neurobiological measures underlying aggressive behavior have gained attention due to their potential to inform risk assessment and treatment interventions. Aberrations in responsivity of the autonomic nervous system and electrophysiological responses to arousal-inducing stimuli have been related to emotional dysregulation and aggressive behavior. However, studies have often been performed in community samples, using tasks that induce arousal but not specifically depict aggression. In this study, we examined differences in psychophysiological (i.e., heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, skin conductance level) and electrophysiological responses (i.e., P3, late positive potential, mu suppression) to aggressive versus neutral scenes in a sample of 118 delinquent young adults and 25 controls (all male, aged 18–27). With respect to group differences, we only found significant higher SCL reactivity during the task in the delinquent group compared to controls, but this was irrespective of condition (aggressive and neutral interactions). Within the delinquent group, we also examined associations between the neurobiological measures and reactive and proactive aggression. No significant associations were found. Therefore, although we found some indication of emotional dysregulation in these delinquent young adults, future studies should further elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying emotional dysregulation in relation to different types of aggression.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 69%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Neurobiological Responses towards Stimuli Depicting Aggressive Interactions in Delinquent Young Adults and Controls: No Relation to Reactive and Proactive Aggression

et al. 2022

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“…Beneficial effects of DLPFC tDCS on aggression are also documented in another recent study (Molero-Chamizo et al, 2019 ) reporting a reduced scores in the Brief Aggression Questionnaire of violent inmates after bilateral anodal tDCS of the DLPFC. Finally, the recent report by Sergiou et al ( 2021 ) found that the High Density (HD)-tDCS of a cortical region between the DLPFC and the VMPFC reduces violent behavior in forensic substance-dependent offenders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Can we rewire criminal mind via non-invasive brain stimulation of prefrontal cortex? Insights from clinical, forensic and social cognition studies

et al. 2022

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Non-compliance with social and legal norms and regulations represents a high burden for society. Social cognition deficits are frequently called into question to explain criminal violence and rule violations in individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (APD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), and psychopathy. In this article, we proposed to consider the potential benefits of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to rehabilitate forensic population. We focused on the effects of NIBS of the prefrontal cortex, which is central in social cognition, in modulating aggression and impulsivity in clinical disorders, as well as in forensic population. We also addressed the effect of NIBS on empathy, and theory of mind in non-clinical and/or prison population. The reviewed data provide promising evidence on the beneficial effect of NIBS on aggression/impulsivity dyscontrol and social cognitive functions, suggesting its relevance in promoting reintegration of criminals into society.

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“…In a trial including 60 patients with opium use disorder, pre-frontal anodal tDCS combined with methadone was successful in reducing anxiety symptom when compared to sham with methadone and a methadone-only group ( 49 ). Up to date, only one tDCS trial in adults with conduct disorders was published and reported reductions in reactive aggression in an aggression task, as well as in self-reported aggression in a forensic population ( 50 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the vmPFC was reported to be—amongst others—dysfunctional in depression and anxiety ( 26 , 63 – 65 ), as well as in conduct disorder in adolescents ( 27 ). Based on these theoretical requirements and the first positive investigations using conventional tDCS to target the vmPFC ( 60 , 66 – 71 ), the vmPFC arises as an ideal brain stimulation region for the planned intervention which will include an optimized stimulation technique providing even higher focality, namely: HD-TDCS ( 50 , 72 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain Stimulation for Emotion Regulation in Adolescents With Psychiatric Disorders: Study Protocol for a Clinical-Transdiagnostical, Randomized, Triple-Blinded and Sham-Controlled Neurotherapeutic Trial

et al. 2022

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BackgroundAnxiety, conduct and depressive disorders represent three highly prevalent psychiatric conditions in adolescents. A shared underpinning of these disorders is a shortcoming in emotion regulation, connected to the functioning of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Thus, an intervention able to target the suggested neural correlate seems to be highly desirable, aiming to hinder a maladaptive development of emotion regulation abilities and chronification of associated psychiatric disorders. As transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was repeatedly demonstrated as a safe and non-invasive method to modulate specific brain activity, research is in demand to evaluate neurotherapeutic applications in adolescents with psychiatric disorders.MethodThis transdiagnostic, randomized, triple-blind and sham-controlled clinical neurostimulation trial primary aims to investigate if emotion regulation abilities are increased after tDCS in adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Secondly, disorder-specific changes in the anxiety, depression or conduct disorder will be investigated, as well as changes in quality of life, and cognitive and emotional functioning after tDCS intervention. We will include 108 adolescents with psychiatric disorders, displaying a substantial deficit in emotion regulation. Of these, one third each has to be primarily diagnosed with a depressive, anxiety or conduct disorder, respectively. Participants will be randomized to the experimental group (n = 54) receiving real anodal tDCS, or to the control group (n = 54) receiving sham tDCS. Brain stimulation will be applied for 20 min on five consecutive days twice targeting the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Changes in emotion regulation, together with changes in disorder-specific clinical symptoms will be recorded by multi-informant psychological ratings. To inspect changes in behavior and gaze, computerized tasks and an eye tracker system will be used. Changes in brain responses to emotional and cognitive stimuli will be examined with three functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigms. In addition, a resting state MRI will be acquired to investigate possible changes in brain connectivity.DiscussionBy investigating “emotion regulation” as transdiagnostic treatment target, this project is oriented toward the Research Domain Criteria framework with a dimensional view on mental illness. The study aims at investigating the potential of tDCS as non-invasive intervention for depressive, anxiety and conduct disorders in adolescents and broadening the scientific foundation for its clinical application.Clinical Trial RegistrationThe study is ongoing and has been registered in the German Registry of Clinical Trials (DRKS-ID: DRKS00025601X) on the 28.06.2021.

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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Targeting the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Reduces Reactive Aggression and Modulates Electrophysiological Responses in a Forensic Population

Cited by 17 publications

References 161 publications

Neurobiological Responses towards Stimuli Depicting Aggressive Interactions in Delinquent Young Adults and Controls: No Relation to Reactive and Proactive Aggression

Neurobiological Responses towards Stimuli Depicting Aggressive Interactions in Delinquent Young Adults and Controls: No Relation to Reactive and Proactive Aggression

Can we rewire criminal mind via non-invasive brain stimulation of prefrontal cortex? Insights from clinical, forensic and social cognition studies

Brain Stimulation for Emotion Regulation in Adolescents With Psychiatric Disorders: Study Protocol for a Clinical-Transdiagnostical, Randomized, Triple-Blinded and Sham-Controlled Neurotherapeutic Trial

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