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Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
Attraction is altered via modulation of the medial prefrontal cortex without explicit knowledge
Samantha Zorns1, Claudia Sierzputowski1, Sydney Ash1
1Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States.
Brain stimulation, specifically repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), can alter attractiveness ratings. Low-frequency rTMS increased perceived attractiveness, while high-frequency rTMS decreased it, suggesting MPFC involvement in how others perceive appearance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Social Science
Background:
- Previous research indicates brain stimulation can modify physical appearance by affecting the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC).
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at 1 Hz has been shown to increase facial expressiveness, with changes detectable by observers but not the subject.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the MPFC influences how attractive individuals are rated by others.
- To explore the role of the MPFC in modulating attractiveness perceptions.
Main Methods:
- Phase I: Ten subjects received rTMS targeting the MPFC under five different stimulation conditions, with photographs taken and self-ratings collected.
- Phase II: 430 participants rated the attractiveness of the photographs of Phase I individuals.
- Analysis focused on self-assessed attractiveness (Phase I) and external attractiveness ratings (Phase II) following different rTMS frequencies (1 Hz vs. 10 Hz).
Main Results:
- No significant changes in self-rated attractiveness were observed after rTMS in Phase I.
- Attractiveness ratings by others in Phase II showed significant differences based on rTMS.
- 1 Hz rTMS to the MPFC led to individuals being rated as more attractive, while 10 Hz rTMS resulted in lower attractiveness ratings (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- The medial prefrontal cortex plays a significant role in modulating perceived attractiveness.
- Brain stimulation, specifically rTMS, can alter an individual's appearance in ways that are perceived by others but remain below the subject's awareness.
- This study is the first to demonstrate a direct link between brain stimulation and changes in attractiveness ratings.
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