Jealousy increased by induced relative left frontal cortical activity

There is a party in my head and no one is invited: Resting-state electrocortical activity and solitude

OBJECTIVE

What are the motivational underpinnings of solitude? We know from self-report studies that increases in solitude are associated with drops in approach motivation and rises in avoidance motivation, but only when solitude is experienced as non-self-determined (i.e., non-autonomous). However, the extent to which individual differences in solitude relate to neurophysiological markers of approach-avoidance motivation derived from resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) is unknown. These markers are Frontal Alpha Asymmetry, beta suppression, and midline Posterior versus Frontal EEG Theta Activity.

METHOD

We assessed the relation among individual differences in the reasons for solitude (i.e., preference for solitude, motivation for solitude), approach-avoidance motivation, and resting-state EEG markers of approach-avoidance motivation (N = 115).

RESULTS

General preference for solitude was negatively related to approach motivation, observed in both self-reported measures and EEG markers of approach motivation. Self-determined solitude was positively related to both self-reported approach motivation and avoidance motivation in the social domain (i.e., friendship). Non-self-determined solitude was negatively associated with self-reported avoidance motivation.

CONCLUSION

This research was a preliminary attempt to address the neurophysiological underpinnings of solitude in the context of motivation.

Does non-invasive brain stimulation modulate emotional stress reactivity?

Excessive emotional responses to stressful events can detrimentally affect psychological functioning and mental health. Recent studies have provided evidence that non-invasive brain stimulation (NBS) targeting the prefrontal cortex (PFC) can affect the regulation of stress-related emotional responses. However, the reliability and effect sizes have not been systematically analyzed. In the present study, we reviewed and meta-analyzed the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the PFC on acute emotional stress reactivity in healthy individuals. Forty sham-controlled single-session rTMS and tDCS studies were included. Separate random effects models were performed to estimate the mean effect sizes of emotional reactivity. Twelve rTMS studies together showed no evidence that rTMS over the PFC influenced emotional reactivity. Twenty-six anodal tDCS studies yielded a weak beneficial effect on stress-related emotional reactivity (Hedges’ g = −0.16, CI_95% = [−0.33, 0.00]). These findings suggest that a single session of NBS is insufficient to induce reliable, clinically significant effects but also provide preliminary evidence that specific NBS methods can affect emotional reactivity. This may motivate further research into augmenting the efficacy of NBS protocols on stress-related processes.

Diseño y análisis psicométrico de un instrumento para evaluar celos

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue diseñar y analizar las propiedades psicométricas del cecla, un instrumento para evaluar celos. La prueba se realizó con base en las respuestas de las entrevistas aplicadas a una muestra clínica, que coincidieron con los planteamientos teóricos desde una perspectiva patológica. Para esto, se realizó una investigación de tipo instrumental en la que se contó con una muestra de 1218 personas que contestaron la prueba, de las cuales ocho conformaron la muestra clínica, 408 participaron en la prueba piloto, y 802 en la prueba final. Los participantes fueron hombres y mujeres con edades entre los 18 y los 71 años, de diferente estado civil, orientación sexual, nivel socioeconómico, educativo, ocupación y región de Colombia. Para la validación de contenido participaron doce expertos, ocho psicólogos clínicos y cuatro metodólogos. En definitiva, el instrumento quedó conformado por 19 ítems que evalúan tres clases de celos: pasionales, obsesivos y delirantes. La consistencia interna, la evidencia de validez mediante análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio, la estabilidad temporal, la validez convergente, el ajuste de los ítems al modelo de Rasch y la equivalencia de estos indicadores bajo los dos modelos analizados indican que el cecla es un instrumento válido, fiable y útil para el objetivo y contexto para el cual fue elaborado.

Revenge is sweet: Investigation of the effects of Approach-Motivated anger on the RewP in the motivated anger delay (MAD) paradigm

Past research has found that neural activity associated with feedback processing is enhanced by positive approach-motivated states. However, no past work has examined how reward processing changes in the context of revenge. Using a novel aggression paradigm, we sought to explore the influence of approach-motivated anger on neural responses to feedback indicating the opportunity to seek revenge against an offending opponent by examining the reward positivity (RewP), an event-related potential indexing performance feedback. In Experiment 1, after receiving insulting feedback from an opponent, participants played a reaction time game with three trial types: revenge trials, aggravation trials, and no-consequence trials. Results revealed that RewP amplitudes were larger to revenge trial win feedback than no-consequence trial win feedback or revenge trial loss feedback. RewP amplitudes were larger to both aggravation trial win and loss feedback than on no-consequence trials. Experiment 2 examined the influence of approach-motivated anger during the acquisition of rewards on the RewP without the possibility of retribution from the offending individual. Participants played a reaction time game similar to Experiment 1, except instead of giving or receiving noise blasts, participants could win money from the insulter (revenge trials) or a neutral-party (e.g., bank). Results indicated that revenge wins elicited larger RewP amplitudes than bank wins. These results suggest that anger enhances revenge-related RewP amplitudes to obtaining revenge opportunities and further aggravation wins or losses. Anger appears to enhance the pleasurable feelings of revenge.

Transcranial electric stimulation as a neural interface to gain insight on human brain functions: current knowledge and future perspective

The use of brain-stimulation approaches in social and affective science has greatly increased over the last two decades. The interest in social factors has grown along with technological advances in brain research. Transcranial electric stimulation (tES) is a research tool that allows scientists to establish contributory causality between brain functioning and social behaviour, therefore deepening our understanding of the social mind. Preliminary evidence is also starting to demonstrate that tES, either alone or in combination with pharmacological or behavioural interventions, can alleviate the symptomatology of individuals with affective or social cognition disorders. This review offers an overview of the application of tES in the field of social and affective neuroscience. We discuss issues and challenges related to this application and suggest avenue for future basic and translational research.

Frontal cerebral oxygenation asymmetry: intersubject variability and dependence on systemic physiology, season, and time of day

Significance: Our study reveals that frontal cerebral oxygenation asymmetry (FCOA), i.e. a difference in the oxygenation between the right and left prefrontal cortex (PFC), is a real phenomenon in healthy human subjects at rest. Aim: To investigate FCOA, we performed a study with 134 healthy right-handed subjects with the systemic physiology augmented functional near infrared spectroscopy (SPA-fNIRS) approach. Approach: Subjects were measured 2 to 4 times on different days resulting in an unprecedented number of 518 single measurements of the absolute values of tissue oxygen saturation (StO 2 ) and total hemoglobin concentration ([tHb]) of the right and left PFC. Measurements were performed with frequency-domain functional near-infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the cardiorespiratory parameters were measured simultaneously. Results: We found that (i) subjects showed an FCOA (higherStO 2 on the right PFC), but not for tHb; (ii) intrasubject variability was excellent for bothStO 2 and tHb, and fair for FCOA; (iii) StO 2 correlated significantly with bloodCO 2 concentration, [tHb] with heart rate, respiration rate (RR), and the pulse-respiration quotient (PRQ), and FCOA with RR and PRQ; (iv) FCOA andStO 2 were dependent on season and time of day, respectively; (v) FCOA was negatively correlated with the room temperature; and (vi) StO 2 and tHb were not correlated with the subjects mood but with their chronotype, whereas FCOA was not dependent on the chronotype. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that FCOA is real, and it provides unique insights into this remarkable phenomenon.

Stimulating Self-Regulation: A Review of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Studies of Goal-Directed Behavior

Self-regulation enables individuals to guide their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a purposeful manner. Self-regulation is thus crucial for goal-directed behavior and contributes to many consequential outcomes in life including physical health, psychological well-being, ethical decision making, and strong interpersonal relationships. Neuroscientific research has revealed that the prefrontal cortex plays a central role in self-regulation, specifically by exerting top-down control over subcortical regions involved in reward (e.g., striatum) and emotion (e.g., amygdala). To orient readers, we first offer a methodological overview of tDCS and then review experiments using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (especially transcranial direct current stimulation) to target prefrontal brain regions implicated in self-regulation. We focus on brain stimulation studies of self-regulatory behavior across three broad domains of response: persistence, delay behavior, and impulse control. We suggest that stimulating the prefrontal cortex promotes successful self-regulation by altering the balance in activity between the prefrontal cortex and subcortical regions involved in emotion and reward processing.

Left frontal anodal tDCS increases approach motivation depending on reward attributes

BACKGROUND

A growing body of literature indicates a correlation between asymmetrical activity of frontal brain sites and approach vs. withdrawal motivation. Yet the causal status of this relationship is presently unclear. Here we examined the effect of anodal tDCS applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) on approach motivation, operationalized as effort allocation during the Effort-Expenditure for Reward Task (EEfRT).

HYPOTHESIS

We expected left frontal anodal transcranial direct current simulation (tDCS) to increase participants' willingness to allocate more effort during the EEfRT. Based on previous research, we expected this effect to be strongest on trials with low probability of reward attainment.

METHODS

60 right-handed neurologically and psychologically healthy participants (63% female) aged 18-35 were tested in a counterbalanced within-subject design. Participants were invited to our lab twice to complete two 15-min blocks of the EEfRT on each study day, randomly assigned to either an anodal tDCS or a SHAM condition.

RESULTS

No main effect of stimulation condition was found, however the interactions of stimulation condition and both probability of reward attainment and reward magnitude reached significance. These interactions indicated that left frontal anodal tDCS specifically increased the percentage of hard task choices (HTC) in trials with low probability of reward attainment and in trials with high reward magnitude.

DISCUSSION

The observation of an increasing effect of left frontal anodal tDCS on effort expenditure for reward as indicated by HTC supports the idea of a causal relationship between asymmetric activity of frontal brain sites and approach motivation and hints at moderating effects of task-features on the effects of tDCS.

The Ending Effect in Investment Decisions: The Motivational Need for an Emotionally Rewarding Ending

The present study examined the power of endings on risky decision making. With four experiments, the changes in the individuals' risk-taking tendencies were examined as the end of an investment decision task approached; the role of motivational shift toward emotional satisfaction in the ending effect was also explored. As predicted, participants who knew they were working on the last round of an investment task were more risk seeking than those who did not know (i.e., ending effect, Experiment 1). Experiments 2 through 4 examined the motivational mechanism of the ending effect. The results supported the notion that the motivation to pursue an emotionally rewarding ending leads to the ending effect. The present research complements existing motivational accounts of risk taking and suggests a new research direction of integrating factors associated with time perception of an approaching ending into existing models of risky decision making.

Pathological jealousy and pathological love: Apples to apples or apples to oranges?

Pathological jealousy evokes emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that cause damage to social and interpersonal relationships. On the other hand, pathological love is the uncontrollable behavior of caring for a partner that results in neglecting the needs of the self. The aim of the present research was to assess the similarities and differences between the two psychopathologies of love. To this end, thirty-two individuals with pathological jealousy and 33 individuals with pathological love were compared on demographics, aspects of romantic relationship (jealousy, satisfaction, love style), psychiatric co-morbidities, personality and psychological characteristics (e.g., impulsivity). In a univariate analysis individuals with pathological jealousy were more likely to be in a current relationship and reported greater satisfaction. The avoidant attachment and the ludus love style were associated with pathological jealousy whereas the secure attachment and agape love style was associated with pathological love. Almost three-quarters (72.3%) of the sample met criteria for a current psychiatric disorder, however no differences emerged between the pathological jealousy and pathological love groups. In a binary logistic regression, relationship status and impairments in parenting significantly differentiated the groups. While both pathological jealousy and pathological love share similarities, they also present with unique differences, which may have important treatment implications.

Primum non nocere or primum facere meliorem? Hacking the brain in the 21st century

Abstract Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that modulates cortical excitability. It is devoid of serious adverse events and exerts variable effects on cognition, with several research findings suggesting that it can improve memory, verbal and mathematical skills. Because tDCS devices are low-cost, portable and relatively easy to assemble, they have become available outside of the medical setting and used for non-medical (“cosmetic”) purposes by laypersons. In this sense, tDCS has become a popular technique aiming to improve cognition and the achievement of a better performance not only at work, but also in other fields such as sports, leisure activities (video games) and even the military. In spite of these unforeseen developments, there has been a general paralysis of the medical and regulatory agencies to develop guidelines for the use of tDCS for cosmetic purposes. Several challenges are present, most importantly, how to restrict tDCS use outside of the medical setting in face of variable and sometimes conflicting results from scientific research. This article aims to describe the popular use of tDCS, in light of the pillars of neuroethics, a branch of bioethics relative to brain research. Between two possible but extreme solutions – total release or total restriction of tDCS – it is paramount to develop a spectrum of alternatives, which may vary over time and in different cultural backgrounds.

Moral Enhancement Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation

Biomedical enhancement refers to the use of biomedical interventions to improve capacities beyond normal, rather than to treat deficiencies due to diseases. Enhancement can target physical or cognitive capacities, but also complex human behaviors such as morality. However, the complexity of normal moral behavior makes it unlikely that morality is a single capacity that can be deficient or enhanced. Instead, our central hypothesis will be that moral behavior results from multiple, interacting cognitive-affective networks in the brain. First, we will test this hypothesis by reviewing evidence for modulation of moral behavior using non-invasive brain stimulation. Next, we will discuss how this evidence affects ethical issues related to the use of moral enhancement. We end with the conclusion that while brain stimulation has the potential to alter moral behavior, such alteration is unlikely to improve moral behavior in all situations, and may even lead to less morally desirable behavior in some instances.

Exercising self-control increases relative left frontal cortical activation

Self-control refers to the capacity to override or alter a predominant response tendency. The current experiment tested the hypothesis that exercising self-control temporarily increases approach motivation, as revealed by patterns of electrical activity in the prefrontal cortex. Participants completed a writing task that did vs did not require them to exercise self-control. Then they viewed pictures known to evoke positive, negative or neutral affect. We assessed electroencephalographic (EEG) activity while participants viewed the pictures, and participants reported their trait levels of behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and behavioral activation system (BAS) sensitivity at the end of the study. We found that exercising (vs not exercising) self-control increased relative left frontal cortical activity during picture viewing, particularly among individuals with relatively higher BAS than BIS, and particularly during positive picture viewing. A similar but weaker pattern emerged during negative picture viewing. The results suggest that exercising self-control temporarily increases approach motivation, which may help to explain the aftereffects of self-control (i.e. ego depletion).