Abstract
BackgroundStudies on risk preferences have long been of great concern and have examined the neural basis underlying risk‐based decision making. However, studies using conventional transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) revealed that bilateral stimulation could change risk propensity with limited evidence of precisely focalized unilateral high‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD‐tDCS). The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of HD‐tDCS focalizing the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on risk‐taking behavior during the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART).MethodsThis study was designed as a between‐subject, single‐blind, sham‐controlled experiment. University students were randomly assigned to three groups: the anodal group (F3 anode, AF3, F1, F5, FC3 returned), the cathodal group (F3 cathodal, AF3, F1, F5, FC3 returned) and the sham group. Subsequently, 1.5‐mA 20‐min HD‐tDCS was applied during the BART, and the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), the Sensation Seeking Scale‐5 (SSS‐5), and the Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Approach System scale (BIS/BAS) were measured as control variables.ResultsThe cathodal group earned less total money than the sham group, and no significant difference was observed between the anodal group and the sham group.ConclusionsThese results showed that, to some extent, focalized unilateral cathodal HD‐tDCS on left DLPFC could change performance during risky tasks and diminish risky decision making. Further studies are needed to investigate the dose effect and electrode distribution of HD‐tDCS during risky tasks and examine synchronous brain activity to show the neural basis.
Highlights
IntroductionRisk-based decision making is an essential advanced cognitive function in daily life and has long been a concern of researchers in different fields, such as economics (Kahneman & Tversky, 2000), management (Sitkin & Weingart, 1995), and psychology (Gardner & Steinberg, 2005).With the development of cognitive neuroscience, a body of evidence for the neural correlates of risk-taking has accumulated in
Prior research has found that conventional bilateral transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) could change risky behavior, but there is a lack of evidence for using precisely targeted HD-tDCS focused on DLPFC
We aimed to investigate the effect of HD-tDCS focalizing the left DLPFC on risk-taking behavior during the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART)
Summary
Risk-based decision making is an essential advanced cognitive function in daily life and has long been a concern of researchers in different fields, such as economics (Kahneman & Tversky, 2000), management (Sitkin & Weingart, 1995), and psychology (Gardner & Steinberg, 2005).With the development of cognitive neuroscience, a body of evidence for the neural correlates of risk-taking has accumulated in. Studies using conventional transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) revealed that bilateral stimulation could change risk propensity with limited evidence of precisely focalized unilateral high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of HD-tDCS focalizing the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on risk-taking behavior during the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Further studies are needed to investigate the dose effect and electrode distribution of HD-tDCS during risky tasks and examine synchronous brain activity to show the neural basis
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