Effect of Modulating DLPFC Activity on Antisocial and Prosocial Behavior: Evidence From a tDCS Study.

Wanjun Zheng,Hang Ye,Jun Luo,Yuzhen Li

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.579792

Wanjun Zheng, Hang Ye + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.579792

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Abstract

Antisocial behavior and prosocial behavior in the condition of inequality have long been observed in daily life. Understanding the neurological mechanisms and brain regions associated with antisocial and prosocial behavior and the development of new interventions are important for reducing violence and inequality. Fortunately, neurocognitive research and brain imaging research have found a correlation between antisocial or prosocial behavior and the prefrontal cortex. Recent brain stimulation research adopting transcranial direct current stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation has shown a causal relationship between brain regions and behaviors, but the findings are mixed. In the present study, we aimed to study whether stimulation of the DLPFC can change participants’ antisocial and prosocial behavior in the condition of inequality. We integrated antisocial and prosocial behavior in a unified paradigm. Based on this paradigm, we discussed costly and cost-free antisocial and prosocial behavior. In addition, we also measured participants’ disadvantageous and advantageous inequality aversion. The current study revealed an asymmetric effect of bilateral stimulation over the DLPFC on costly antisocial behavior, while such an effect of antisocial behavior without cost and prosocial behavior with and without cost were not observed. Moreover, costly antisocial behavior exhibited by men increased after receiving right anodal/left cathodal stimulation and decreased after receiving right cathodal anodal/left anodal stimulation compared with the behavior observed under sham stimulation. However, subjects’ inequality aversion was not influenced by tDCS.

Highlights

Antisocial behavior mainly involves actions intended to reduce other individuals’ endowment or access to resources, they do not benefit the antisocial individual directly and may even cost that individual his or her own endowment (Abbink and Sadrieh, 2009)
Spearman’s test indicated that costly antisocial behavior was positively correlated with disadvantageous inequality aversion and antisocial behavior without cost was positively correlated with disadvantageous inequality
Costly prosocial behavior was positively correlated with advantageous inequality aversion

Summary

Introduction

Antisocial behavior mainly involves actions intended to reduce other individuals’ endowment or access to resources, they do not benefit the antisocial individual directly and may even cost that individual his or her own endowment (Abbink and Sadrieh, 2009). The joy of destruction is one reason tDCS Alter Antisocial Behavior for antisocial behavior (Abbink and Sadrieh, 2009), individuals’ preference for equality is one of the most important reasons for their antisocial behavior. Antisocial behavior is related to norm violation. Clinical scientists found that antisocial behavior results from a deficit in the capacity to inhibit responses to threats and rewards, which is similar to norm-violating behavior (Dolan, 2012; Patrick et al, 2012). Antisocial behavior, such as aggressive behavior, is an important element of nonhuman primate social behavior (de Almeida et al, 2015). Displays of aggression in male-male competition are common in all species of primates, antisocial behavior is important in the process of intergroup resource defense, predation, and reproduction (Bernstein and Gordon, 1974; Plavcan, 2012)

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