Targeting aggression with prefrontal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation
Scientific Reports, vol. 16, pp. 5559
Abstract
Heightened aggression is associated with behavioural and neural deficits in inhibitory control. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows promise in facilitating inhibitory control and reducing aggression. However, the mixed effects and widespread electric fields of tDCS warrant more precise stimulation methods. High-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) may enhance focality to target the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG), a key region in inhibitory control. In a double-blind and sham-controlled study, we investigated behavioral and neural differences between anodal and sham HD-tDCS in a subsequent Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP). Anodal HD-tDCS was applied at 1.5 mA for 20 min over the rIFG. Reference electrodes were located at TP8, PZ, FC3, and FP1. 41 healthy male participants were randomly assigned to either anodal (19) or sham (22) HD-tDCS and completed the TAP during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Anodal HD-tDCS did not directly reduce aggression; however, the stimulation weakened the effect of provocation on aggressive behaviour. Imaging results indicated that anodal HD-tDCS was associated with a positive provocation-related increase of bilateral parietal lobule (IPL) activation. Taken together, behavioural and neuroimaging findings suggest that anodal rIFG stimulation may engage the inhibitory control network as reflected in reduced responsiveness to provocation and increased activation during provocation.
Authors 9
-
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, MTI1, Office 117, Wendlingweg 2, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine- Westphalia, Germany. llasogga@ukaachen.de
-
Lena Hofhansel Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Faculty of Medicine
Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, MTI1, Office 117, Wendlingweg 2, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine- Westphalia, Germany
Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Research Center Jülich, JARA- Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52438, Jülich, Germany
-
Chiara Gramegna Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Faculty of Medicine
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, MTI1, Office 117, Wendlingweg 2, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine- Westphalia, Germany
-
Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, MTI1, Office 117, Wendlingweg 2, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine- Westphalia, Germany
Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Research Center Jülich, JARA- Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship (INM 10), Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52438, Jülich, Germany
-
David M.A. Mehler Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Faculty of Medicine
University of Münster · Cardiff University · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, MTI1, Office 117, Wendlingweg 2, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine- Westphalia, Germany
Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
-
Affiliation as printed
Brain Behavior Laboratories, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
-
Judith Dammers Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Faculty of Medicine
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, MTI1, Office 117, Wendlingweg 2, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine- Westphalia, Germany
-
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, 52074, Frankfurt, Germany
-
Carmen Weidler Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Faculty of Medicine
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, MTI1, Office 117, Wendlingweg 2, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, North Rhine- Westphalia, Germany
Cited by 0 stored of 0
No patents citing this paper on Lens.org (checked 2026-10-06).