The Effect of Repeated Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior
Antisocial Behavior, Aggression
About this trial
This is an interventional basic science trial for Antisocial Behavior focused on measuring antisocial behavior, aggression, transcranial direct current stimulation, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, associated risk factors
Eligibility Criteria
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
Sites / Locations
- University of Pennsylvania
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Anodal stimulation
Sham stimulation
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.
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.