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Effects of prefrontal cortical stimulation on aggressive and antisocial behavior: A double-blind, stratified, randomized, sham-controlled, parallel-group trial

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Abstract

Objectives

This study examines the influence of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) on aggressive behavior and antisocial intentions, and provides an updated meta-analysis of prior studies.

Methods

In this double-blind, stratified, randomized, sham-controlled, parallel-group trial, 94 participants received sham or 20 min of 2 mA anodal stimulation of the PFC using HD-tDCS. The Voodoo Doll Task and hypothetical vignettes were used to measure aggressive behavior and antisocial intentions, respectively.

Results

There were no significant group differences in aggressive behavior or antisocial intentions after stimulation.

Conclusions

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine HD-tDCS in reducing aggressive and antisocial behavior. The null effects on aggressive behavior align with an updated meta-analysis of prior studies (d = − 0.028, 95% CI [− 1.14, 1.08]). Future studies employing repeated tDCS sessions on significantly antisocial populations could further help assess the utility of tDCS for reducing antisociality.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks are due to Derek M. McCammond for develo** the frustration task used in this study. Many thanks are also due to Olu Faseyitan for providing the tDCS training and blinding codes, and Dr. Branch Coslett for providing physician coverage for participant sessions. Thanks are also due to the research assistants who helped with data collection and data entry.

Funding

This work was supported by the Grant for Faculty Mentoring Undergraduate Research at the University of Pennsylvania.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Criminology, University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk, Suite 216, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Shichun Ling

  2. Departments of Criminology, Psychiatry, and Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk, Suite 547, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Adrian Raine

  3. Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 48 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639818, Singapore

    Olivia Choy

  4. Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, 3710 Hamilton Walk, 5th floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Roy Hamilton

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  1. Shichun Ling
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Correspondence to Shichun Ling.

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The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Pennsylvania.

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Ling, S., Raine, A., Choy, O. et al. Effects of prefrontal cortical stimulation on aggressive and antisocial behavior: A double-blind, stratified, randomized, sham-controlled, parallel-group trial. J Exp Criminol 16, 367–387 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-020-09427-w

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