The Effect of Repeated Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study investigates the relationship between prefrontal cortex activity and antisocial and aggressive behavior, and risk factors for such behavior. In the double-blind, randomized controlled trial, participants will undergo three sessions of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or sham stimulation and complete survey and laboratory measures assessing antisocial behavior and risk factors. Heart rate and skin conductance will also be measured.

Official Title
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The Effect of Repeated Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Prefrontal Cortex on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior

Conditions
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Antisocial Behavior, Aggression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation
* Device: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Above 18 years of age Able to understand the nature of the study and give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Currently consuming anti-convulsant, anti-psychotic, or sedative/hypnotic medications Currently consuming anti-depressants History of seizures Metallic implants on the scalp Participation in other transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or tDCS experiments on the same day History of adverse reactions to tDCS

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Anodal stimulation<br>Participants in the active stimulation group will undergo 3 sessions of anodal bilateral transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on three consecutive days. tDCS will be delivered by a battery-driven, constant-current stimulator connected to three saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. Two anodal electrodes (25cm2) will be placed over the DLPFC bilaterally and one cathodal electrode (35cm2) will be placed at the back of the neck. Scalp electrodes will be positioned over the F3 and F4 according to the 10-20 EEG international system. A current of 2mA (1mA at each DLPFC site) will be applied for 20 minutes and the current will be ramped up and down at the beginning and end of the stimulation period. | Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation<br> <br> |
| Sham Comparator: Sham stimulation<br>The sham transcranial direct current stimulation condition will involve the same placement of the electrodes, current intensity, and ramp time as the real tDCS condition, but stimulation will only last for 30 seconds. | Device: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of Pins Inserted Into a Virtual Voodoo Doll After 48 Hours | The number of pins (between 0 and 51) that participants decide to insert into a picture of a voodoo doll on a computer that represents either a romantic partner or close friend will be recorded. | On average, 48 hours after the first 20-minute tDCS or sham session ends | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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antisocial behavior, aggression, transcranial direct current stimulation, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, associated risk factors