Modulation of control: Can HD-tDCS targeting the dACC reduce impulsivity?

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Neuromodulation

Background:

• The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) plays a crucial role in impulsivity.
• Dysfunctional dACC activity is linked to psychological disorders with high trait impulsivity.
• High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) offers a non-invasive method to target deep brain structures like the dACC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if HD-tDCS targeting the dACC can modulate inhibitory control and error processing, key components of impulsivity.
• To assess the effects of HD-tDCS on behavioral and electrophysiological measures of impulsivity.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind, cross-over study involving 23 healthy adults with high trait impulsivity.
• Participants received either active or sham HD-tDCS in a counterbalanced order with a washout period.
• Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded during a Go-NoGo task before, immediately after, and 30 minutes post-stimulation.

Main Results:

• HD-tDCS targeting the dACC did not significantly alter behavioral performance on the Go-NoGo task.
• Evidence suggested a delayed modulation of neurophysiological components related to motor inhibition (NoGo P3) and error processing (ERN) after one session.

Conclusions:

• HD-tDCS shows potential for modulating the neurophysiological underpinnings of impulsivity.
• Further research is needed to determine the extent of dACC modulation and whether multi-session HD-tDCS can induce behavioral changes, especially in clinical populations.