Activation of Prefrontal Cortex by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Reduces Appetite for Risk during Ambiguous Decision Making

摘要: As adult humans, we are continuously faced with decisions in which proper weighing of the risk involved is critical. Excessively risky or overly cautious decision making can both have disastrous real-world consequences. Weighing risks and benefits toward involves a complex neural network that includes dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), but its role remains unclear. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation studies shown disruption DLPFC increases risk-taking behavior. Transcranial direct current (tDCS) allows upregulation activity DLPFC, predicted it might promote more making. Healthy participants received one following treatments while they performed Balloon Analog Risk Task: (1) right anodal/left cathodal tDCS, (2) left anodal/ (3) sham tDCS. This experiment revealed receiving either bilateral tDCS strategies adopted risk-averse response style. In control experiment, tested whether unilateral (anodal over electrode contralateral supraorbital area) was sufficient to decrease behaviors. showed no difference decision-making behaviors between groups stimulation. These findings extend notion critical for adaptive making, possibly by suppressing riskier responses. Anodal itself did not significantly change behaviors; however, when modulated tCDS, an important taking observed. Also, induced behavior observed only DLPFCs modulated. The ability modify may be translated into therapeutic interventions disorders such as drug abuse, overeating, pathological gambling.