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Kroker T, Rehbein MA, Wyczesany M, Bölte J, Roesmann K, Wessing I, Junghöfer M. Higher-order comparative reward processing is affected by noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25248. [PMID: 37815024 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
A crucial skill, especially in rapidly changing environments, is to be able to learn efficiently from prior rewards or losses and apply this acquired knowledge in upcoming situations. Often, we must weigh the risks of different options and decide whether an option is worth the risk or whether we should choose a safer option. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is suggested as a major hub for basic but also higher-order reward processing. Dysfunction in this region has been linked to cognitive risk factors for depression and behavioral addictions, including reduced optimism and feedback learning. Here, we test whether modulations of vmPFC excitability via noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can alter reward anticipation and reward processing. In a financial gambling task, participants chose between a higher and a lower monetary risk option and eventually received feedback whether they won or lost. Simultaneously feedback on the unchosen option was presented as well. Behavioral and magnetoencephalographic correlates of reward processing were evaluated in direct succession of either excitatory or inhibitory tDCS of the vmPFC. We were able to show modulated reward approach behavior (expectancy of greater reward magnitudes) as well as altered reevaluation of received feedback by vmPFC tDCS as indicated by modified choice behavior following the feedback. Thereby, tDCS not only influenced early, rather basic reward processing, but it also modulated higher-order comparative feedback evaluation of gains and losses relative to alternative outcomes. The neural results underline this idea, as stimulation-driven modulations of the basic reward-related effect occurred at rather early time intervals and were followed by stimulation effects related to comparative reward processing. Importantly, behavioral ratings were correlated with neural activity in left frontal areas. Our results imply a dual function of the vmPFC consisting of approaching reward (as indicated by more risky choices) and elaborately evaluating outcomes. In addition, our data suggest that vmPFC activity is associated with adaptive decision-making in the future via modulated behavioral adaptation or reinforcement learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kroker
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Maimu Alissa Rehbein
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Jens Bölte
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Kati Roesmann
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Ida Wessing
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Markus Junghöfer
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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2
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Dobel C, Junghöfer M. Tinnitus-on the interplay between emotion and cognition. HNO 2024; 72:46-50. [PMID: 37725160 DOI: 10.1007/s00106-023-01339-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Subjective tinnitus (hereafter tinnitus) is often considered and studied as a perceptual phenomenon. Accordingly, various abnormalities in the area of cognitive processing have been reported in patients with tinnitus. At the same time, the disorder is characterized by considerable emotional distress, which is associated with a high comorbidity of affective disorders. Here, we aim to outline the close link between cognition and emotion, and how current research from the field of cognitive neuroscience examines the processing and acquisition of emotional stimuli. The emotional valence of stimuli can be acquired after brief exposure to learning, leading from neutral to appetitive or aversive evaluation. In contrast to neutral stimuli, emotional stimuli attract attention very early (about 100 ms) during processing, leading to deeper processing and corresponding memory effects. The involved subcortical and cortical network encompasses limbic and sensory areas. In particular, prefrontal regions are involved in the acquisition and evaluation of emotional stimuli as also shown in studies of patients with affect disorders. The interplay of cognitive and emotional processes seems to be central to the development, maintenance, and treatment of tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Dobel
- ENT Clinic, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.
| | - Markus Junghöfer
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignal Analysis, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
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3
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Kroker T, Wyczesany M, Rehbein MA, Roesmann K, Wessing I, Wiegand A, Bölte J, Junghöfer M. Excitatory stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex reduces cognitive gambling biases via improved feedback learning. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17984. [PMID: 37863877 PMCID: PMC10589243 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43264-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans are subject to a variety of cognitive biases, such as the framing-effect or the gambler's fallacy, that lead to decisions unfitting of a purely rational agent. Previous studies have shown that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) plays a key role in making rational decisions and that stronger vmPFC activity is associated with attenuated cognitive biases. Accordingly, dysfunctions of the vmPFC are associated with impulsive decisions and pathological gambling. By applying a gambling paradigm in a between-subjects design with 33 healthy adults, we demonstrate that vmPFC excitation via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) reduces the framing-effect and the gambler's fallacy compared to sham stimulation. Corresponding magnetoencephalographic data suggest improved inhibition of maladaptive options after excitatory vmPFC-tDCS. Our analyses suggest that the underlying mechanism might be improved reinforcement learning, as effects only emerge over time. These findings encourage further investigations of whether excitatory vmPFC-tDCS has clinical utility in treating pathological gambling or other behavioral addictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kroker
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Malmedyweg 15, 48149, Muenster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Maimu Alissa Rehbein
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Malmedyweg 15, 48149, Muenster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Kati Roesmann
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Malmedyweg 15, 48149, Muenster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, Unit of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Ida Wessing
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Malmedyweg 15, 48149, Muenster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Anja Wiegand
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Malmedyweg 15, 48149, Muenster, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jens Bölte
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Markus Junghöfer
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Malmedyweg 15, 48149, Muenster, Germany.
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
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4
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Dobel C, Junghöfer M. [Tinnitus-on the interplay between emotion and cognition. German version]. HNO 2023; 71:648-655. [PMID: 37581622 DOI: 10.1007/s00106-023-01338-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Subjective tinnitus (hereafter tinnitus) is often considered and studied as a perceptual phenomenon. Accordingly, various abnormalities in the area of cognitive processing have been reported in patients with tinnitus. At the same time, the disorder is characterized by considerable emotional distress, which is associated with a high comorbidity of affective disorders. Here, we aim to outline the close link between cognition and emotion, and how current research from the field of cognitive neuroscience examines the processing and acquisition of emotional stimuli. The emotional valence of stimuli can be acquired after brief exposure to learning, leading from neutral to appetitive or aversive evaluation. In contrast to neutral stimuli, emotional stimuli attract attention very early (about 100 ms) during processing, leading to deeper processing and corresponding memory effects. The involved subcortical and cortical network encompasses limbic and sensory areas. In particular, prefrontal regions are involved in the acquisition and evaluation of emotional stimuli as also shown in studies of patients with affect disorders. The interplay of cognitive and emotional processes seems to be central to the development, maintenance, and treatment of tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Dobel
- HNO-Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Stoystr. 3, 07740, Jena, Deutschland.
| | - Markus Junghöfer
- Institut für Biomagnetismus und Biosignalanalyse, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Deutschland
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5
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Rehbein MA, Kroker T, Winker C, Ziehfreund L, Reschke A, Bölte J, Wyczesany M, Roesmann K, Wessing I, Junghöfer M. Non-invasive stimulation reveals ventromedial prefrontal cortex function in reward prediction and reward processing. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1219029. [PMID: 37650099 PMCID: PMC10465130 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1219029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Studies suggest an involvement of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in reward prediction and processing, with reward-based learning relying on neural activity in response to unpredicted rewards or non-rewards (reward prediction error, RPE). Here, we investigated the causal role of the vmPFC in reward prediction, processing, and RPE signaling by transiently modulating vmPFC excitability using transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). Methods Participants received excitatory or inhibitory tDCS of the vmPFC before completing a gambling task, in which cues signaled varying reward probabilities and symbols provided feedback on monetary gain or loss. We collected self-reported and evaluative data on reward prediction and processing. In addition, cue-locked and feedback-locked neural activity via magnetoencephalography (MEG) and pupil diameter using eye-tracking were recorded. Results Regarding reward prediction (cue-locked analysis), vmPFC excitation (versus inhibition) resulted in increased prefrontal activation preceding loss predictions, increased pupil dilations, and tentatively more optimistic reward predictions. Regarding reward processing (feedback-locked analysis), vmPFC excitation (versus inhibition) resulted in increased pleasantness, increased vmPFC activation, especially for unpredicted gains (i.e., gain RPEs), decreased perseveration in choice behavior after negative feedback, and increased pupil dilations. Discussion Our results support the pivotal role of the vmPFC in reward prediction and processing. Furthermore, they suggest that transient vmPFC excitation via tDCS induces a positive bias into the reward system that leads to enhanced anticipation and appraisal of positive outcomes and improves reward-based learning, as indicated by greater behavioral flexibility after losses and unpredicted outcomes, which can be seen as an improved reaction to the received feedback.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maimu Alissa Rehbein
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Kroker
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Constantin Winker
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Ziehfreund
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Anna Reschke
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Bölte
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Kati Roesmann
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Ida Wessing
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Markus Junghöfer
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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6
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Noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex modulates rationality of human decision-making. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20213. [PMID: 36418381 PMCID: PMC9684418 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24526-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The framing-effect is a bias that affects decision-making depending on whether the available options are presented with positive or negative connotations. Even when the outcome of two choices is equivalent, people have a strong tendency to avoid the negatively framed option. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is crucial for rational decision-making, and dysfunctions in this region have been linked to cognitive biases, impulsive behavior and gambling addiction. Using a financial decision-making task in combination with magnetoencephalographic neuroimaging, we show that excitatory compared to inhibitory non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the vmPFC reduces framing-effects while improving the assessment of loss-probabilities, ultimately leading to increased overall gains. Behavioral and neural data consistently suggest that this improvement in rational decision-making is predominately due to an attenuation of biases towards negative affect (loss-aversion and risk-aversion). These findings recommend further research towards clinical applications of vmPFC-tDCS as in addictive disorders.
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7
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Ligeza TS, Maciejczyk M, Wyczesany M, Junghofer M. The effects of a single aerobic exercise session on mood and neural emotional reactivity in depressed and healthy young adults: A late positive potential study. Psychophysiology 2022; 60:e14137. [PMID: 35790005 PMCID: PMC10078493 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Depression has been characterized by lowered mood and unfavorable changes in neural emotional reactivity (altered brain responses to emotional stimuli). Physical exercise is a well-established strategy to improve the mood of healthy and depressed individuals. Increasing evidence suggests that exercise might also improve emotional reactivity in healthy adults by increasing or decreasing brain responses to positive or negative stimuli, respectively. It is unknown, however, if exercise could also benefit emotional reactivity in depressed individuals. We investigated the effects of a single aerobic exercise session on mood and emotional reactivity in 24 depressed and 24 matched healthy young adults. Self-reported mood and neural reactivity to emotional pictures (indexed by the EEG late positive potential, LPP) were assessed before and after two experimental protocols: exercise (36 min of moderate-intensity exercise at 75% of maximal heart rate) and seated rest condition (36 min). In the healthy control group, exercise improved self-reported mood and neural emotional reactivity (increasing LPP to positive pictures). In the depressed group, exercise improved self-reported mood; however, it did not affect neural emotional reactivity. Additional analyses performed on both groups revealed that exercise-induced changes in emotional reactivity are associated with the severity of depressive symptoms: the effectiveness of exercise in improving emotional reactivity decreases with the severity of depressive symptoms. Overall, the study further strengthens the claim of a beneficial role of exercise on mood and emotional reactivity. It also suggests that a single aerobic exercise session might have a limited influence on neural emotional reactivity in depressed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz S Ligeza
- Psychophysiology Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marcin Maciejczyk
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Physical Education, Kraków, Poland
| | - Miroslaw Wyczesany
- Psychophysiology Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Markus Junghofer
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignal analysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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8
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Konicar L, Prillinger K, Klöbl M, Lanzenberger R, Antal A, Plener PL. Brain Stimulation for Emotion Regulation in Adolescents With Psychiatric Disorders: Study Protocol for a Clinical-Transdiagnostical, Randomized, Triple-Blinded and Sham-Controlled Neurotherapeutic Trial. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:840836. [PMID: 35546931 PMCID: PMC9082670 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.840836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety, 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. METHOD This 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. DISCUSSION By 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 REGISTRATION The 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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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Konicar
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Prillinger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manfred Klöbl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Antal
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paul L Plener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Child and Adolescents Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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9
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Roesmann K, Kroker T, Hein S, Rehbein M, Winker C, Leehr EJ, Klucken T, Junghöfer M. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Modulates Perceptual and Neural Patterns of Fear Generalization. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021; 7:210-220. [PMID: 34403785 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overgeneralization of fear is a pathogenic marker of anxiety and stress-related disorders and has been linked with perceptual discrimination deficits, reduced fear inhibition, and prefrontal hyporeactivity to safety-signaling stimuli. We aimed to examine whether behavioral and neural patterns of fear generalization are influenced by the fear-inhibiting ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). METHODS Three groups of healthy participants received excitatory (n = 27), inhibitory (n = 26), or sham (n = 26) transcranial direct current stimulation of the vmPFC after a fear conditioning phase and before a fear generalization phase. We obtained, as dependent variables, fear ratings and unconditioned stimulus-expectancy ratings, perceptual aspects of fear generalization (perceptual discrimination), pupil dilations, and source estimations of event-related fields elicited by conditioned and generalization stimuli. RESULTS After inhibitory (compared with excitatory and sham) vmPFC stimulation, we observed reduced performance in perceptual discrimination and less negative inhibitory gradients in frontal structures at midlatency and late time intervals. Fear and unconditioned stimulus-expectancy ratings as well as pupil dilation remained unaffected by stimulation. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal a causal contribution of vmPFC reactivity to generalization patterns and suggest that vmPFC hyporeactivity consequent on inhibitory vmPFC stimulation may serve as a model for pathological processes of fear generalization (reduced discrimination, impaired fear inhibition via frontal brain structures). This encourages further basic and clinical research on the potential of targeted brain stimulation to modulate fear generalization and overgeneralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kati Roesmann
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.
| | - Thomas Kroker
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sarah Hein
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Maimu Rehbein
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Constantin Winker
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Tim Klucken
- Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Markus Junghöfer
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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10
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Hsu WY, Cheng CH, Zanto TP, Gazzaley A, Bove RM. Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cognition, Mood, Pain, and Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Neurol 2021; 12:626113. [PMID: 33763014 PMCID: PMC7982804 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.626113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognition, mood disturbance, pain, and fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Methods: A literature search was performed on articles published between January 1990 and May 2020 in Pubmed, Medline, and Web of Science using the following keywords and their abbreviation in combinations: multiple sclerosis and transcranial direct current stimulation. Mean effect size (ES) and 95% confidence interval were calculated for each domain of interest. Results: Seventeen articles with a total of 383 PwMS were included in this analysis. For cognition, a strong effect size was found for the trial administering the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (ES: 1.15), whereas trials applying the Attention Network Test showed a negative effect size of −0.49. Moderate to strong effect sizes were observed for mood disturbance (mean ES: 0.92), pain (mean ES: 0.59), and fatigue (mean ES: 0.60). Further subgroup analyses for MS-related fatigue showed that both high and low intensities of stimulation lead to nearly the same degree of favorable effects. More pronounced effects were observed in studies administering the Fatigue Severity Scale compared with studies using other fatigue measures such as the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale. Conclusion: These results provide preliminary evidence that tDCS has a favorable effect on cognitive processing speed, mood disturbance, pain, and fatigue in MS. However, the effects on cognition and fatigue vary based on the specific assessment used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Hsu
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Chia-Hsiung Cheng
- Department of Occupational Therapy and Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Neural Dynamics (BIND Lab), Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Riley M Bove
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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11
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Acute aerobic exercise enhances pleasant compared to unpleasant visual scene processing. Brain Cogn 2020; 143:105595. [PMID: 32544794 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Although acute aerobic exercise benefits different aspects of emotional functioning, it is unclear how exercise influences the processing of emotional stimuli and which brain mechanisms support this relationship. We assessed the influence of acute aerobic exercise on valence biases (preferential processing of negative/positive pictures) by performing source reconstructions of participants' brain activity after they viewed emotional scenes. Twenty-four healthy participants (12 women) were tested in a randomized and counterbalanced design that consisted of three experimental protocols, each lasting 30 min: low-intensity exercise (Low-Int); moderate-intensity exercise (Mod-Int); and a seated rest condition (REST). After each of the protocols, participants viewed negative and positive pictures, during which event-related magnetic fields were recorded. Analyses revealed that exercise strongly impacted the valence processing of emotional scenes within a widely distributed left hemispheric spatio-temporal cluster between 190 and 310 ms after picture onset. Brain activity in this cluster showed that a negativity bias at REST (negative > positive picture processing) diminished after the Low-Int condition (positive = negative) and even reversed to a positivity bias after the Mod-Int condition (positive > negative). Thus, acute aerobic exercise of low and moderate intensities induces a positivity bias which is reflected in early, automatic processes.
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