Noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex modulates emotional face processing

Winker, Constantin; Rehbein, Maimu Alissa; Sabatinelli, Dean; Dohn, Mira; Maitzen, Julius; Wolters, Carsten H.; Arolt, Volker; Junghöfer, Markus

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.03.067

Cited by 32 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…In this pilot study, we investigated how repeated vmPFC-tDCS across five days affects the previously reported modulation of valence specificity Winker et al, 2018;2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…tDCS was applied by means of a DC Stimulator Plus (NeuroConn). The procedure was identical to previous studies Winker et al, 2018;2019): in a two-electrode design with a 3 x 3 cm square electrode placed at 10-20 electrode position Fp and a 5 x 5 cm square electrode placed below the chin as extracephalic reference, a current strength of 1.5 mA was applied over 10 min. Both electrodes were covered in saline soaked sponges to enable sufficient conductibility.…”

Section: Tdcsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If the cluster mass reached a p-value <.05 in comparison to the biggest cluster of each of the 1,000 permutations (cluster-level criterion), it surpassed the critical cluster mass and thus was considered significant. Cluster mass-analyses were conducted for previously determined intervals (see Junghofer et al, 2017;Winker et al, 2018;2019) of 0-100ms (early), 100-200ms (early mid-latency), 200-300ms (late mid-latency) and 300-600 ms (late). First-and second-level significant clusters that were cut off by the beginning or end of a predefined interval were reanalyzed in an interval extended for 50 ms in the respective direction.…”

Section: Meg Measurement and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In an fMRI and a separate MEG sample, participants showed valence modulation effects for passively viewed emotional scenes with increased neuronal activation for pleasant compared to unpleasant scenes after excitatory vmPFC-tDCS and vice versa after inhibitory vmPFC-tDCS . Comparable effects were found during the processing of happy compared to fearful faces (Winker et al, 2018). In addition, several studies from other groups point to a more general modulation capability of vmPFC by tDCS that is not limited to the mere viewing of emotional stimuli (Abend et al, 2018;Chib et al, 2013;Dittert et al, 2018;Mungee et al, 2014;Van 't Wout et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…However, due to the exploratory nature of this study, analyses reported here were conducted without predefined regions of interest. Only temporal limitations by fixed intervals that divided the whole time window into subgroups (for a detailed description see Junghofer et al, 2017;Winker et al, 2018) were applied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Repeated noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex reveals cumulative amplification of pleasant compared to unpleasant scene processing: a single subject pilot study

Winker

Rehbein

Sabatinelli³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is a major hub of the reward system and has been shown to activate specifically in response to pleasant / rewarding stimuli. Previous studies demonstrate enhanced pleasant cue reactivity after single applications of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the vmPFC. Here we present a pilot case study in which we assess the cumulative impact of multiple consecutive vmPFC-tDCS sessions on the processing of visual emotional stimuli in an event-related MEG recording design. The results point to stable modulation of increased positivity biases (pleasant > unpleasant stimulus signal strength) after excitatory vmPFC stimulation and a reversed pattern (pleasant < unpleasant) after inhibitory stimulation across five consecutive tDCS sessions. Moreover, cumulative effects of these emotional bias modulations were observable for several source-localized spatio-temporal clusters, suggesting an increase in modulatory efficiency by repeated tDCS sessions. This pilot study provides evidence for improvements in the effectiveness and utility of a novel tDCS paradigm in the context of emotional processing.

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“…In this pilot study, we investigated how repeated vmPFC-tDCS across five days affects the previously reported modulation of valence specificity Winker et al, 2018;2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Tdcsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Meg Measurement and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Repeated noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex reveals cumulative amplification of pleasant compared to unpleasant scene processing: a single subject pilot study

Winker

Rehbein

Sabatinelli³

et al. 2019

Preprint

Self Cite

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Higher‐order comparative reward processing is affected by noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex

Kroker,

Rehbein,

Wyczesany

et al. 2023

J of Neuroscience Research

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A crucial skill, especially in rapidly changing environments, is to be able to learn efficiently from prior rewards or losses and apply this acquired knowledge in upcoming situations. Often, we must weigh the risks of different options and decide whether an option is worth the risk or whether we should choose a safer option. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is suggested as a major hub for basic but also higher‐order reward processing. Dysfunction in this region has been linked to cognitive risk factors for depression and behavioral addictions, including reduced optimism and feedback learning. Here, we test whether modulations of vmPFC excitability via noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can alter reward anticipation and reward processing. In a financial gambling task, participants chose between a higher and a lower monetary risk option and eventually received feedback whether they won or lost. Simultaneously feedback on the unchosen option was presented as well. Behavioral and magnetoencephalographic correlates of reward processing were evaluated in direct succession of either excitatory or inhibitory tDCS of the vmPFC. We were able to show modulated reward approach behavior (expectancy of greater reward magnitudes) as well as altered reevaluation of received feedback by vmPFC tDCS as indicated by modified choice behavior following the feedback. Thereby, tDCS not only influenced early, rather basic reward processing, but it also modulated higher‐order comparative feedback evaluation of gains and losses relative to alternative outcomes. The neural results underline this idea, as stimulation‐driven modulations of the basic reward‐related effect occurred at rather early time intervals and were followed by stimulation effects related to comparative reward processing. Importantly, behavioral ratings were correlated with neural activity in left frontal areas. Our results imply a dual function of the vmPFC consisting of approaching reward (as indicated by more risky choices) and elaborately evaluating outcomes. In addition, our data suggest that vmPFC activity is associated with adaptive decision‐making in the future via modulated behavioral adaptation or reinforcement learning.

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Your Brain on Art: A New Paradigm to Study Artistic Creativity Based on the ‘Exquisite Corpse’ Using Mobile Brain-Body Imaging

et al. 2019

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Noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex modulates emotional face processing

Cited by 32 publications

References 58 publications

Repeated noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex reveals cumulative amplification of pleasant compared to unpleasant scene processing: a single subject pilot study

Repeated noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex reveals cumulative amplification of pleasant compared to unpleasant scene processing: a single subject pilot study

Higher‐order comparative reward processing is affected by noninvasive stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex

Your Brain on Art: A New Paradigm to Study Artistic Creativity Based on the ‘Exquisite Corpse’ Using Mobile Brain-Body Imaging

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