The Role of tDCS and Subjective Beliefs in
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2018-08-20
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en
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Abstract
Approach-avoidance behaviours play a big role in various parts of our daily life and
can range from more controlled, explicit behaviours to more automatic, implicit tendencies.
Controlled approach behaviour has been associated with relative greater left than right activity
in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, with studies inducing this pattern of brain activity finding
an increase in controlled approach behaviour. However, it is not known whether or not this
also holds true for more implicit approach-avoidance behaviours. It is therefore not known if
brain stimulation can increase implicit approach behaviour. Furthermore, subjective beliefs
about interventions such as brain stimulation techniques have been shown to influence the
results of the interventions. Therefore, it is also not known if inducing the subjective belief
that the stimulation increases approach behaviour, actually leads to increased approach
behaviour. We expected active compared to sham tDCS and the subjective belief induction
compared to control instructions to results in increased approach behaviour, measured in
reaction times. In order to test this, 39 healthy volunteers were assigned to either a
manipulation condition in which a subjective belief about the transcranial direct current
stimulation was induced, or a control condition which did not receive this manipulation. Both
groups completed two blocks of a joystick task measuring implicit approach-avoidance
behaviour. The first block of the task was accompanied by sham stimulation and the second
block was accompanied by active stimulation. The results showed that neither stimulation nor
subjective beliefs influenced implicit approach-avoidance behaviour. However, active
stimulation led to an overall reduction in reaction times. It is possible that tDCS and
subjective beliefs cannot influence implicit approach behaviour.
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Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen