Modulating presence and impulsiveness by external stimulation of the brain

Gian Beeli, Gianclaudio Casutt, Thomas Baumgartner, Lutz Jäncke, Gian Beeli, Gianclaudio Casutt, Thomas Baumgartner, Lutz Jäncke

Abstract

Background: "The feeling of being there" is one possible way to describe the phenomenon of feeling present in a virtual environment and to act as if this environment is real. One brain area, which is hypothesized to be critically involved in modulating this feeling (also called presence) is the dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), an area also associated with the control of impulsive behavior.

Methods: In our experiment we applied transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the right dlPFC in order to modulate the experience of presence while watching a virtual roller coaster ride. During the ride we also registered electro-dermal activity. Subjects also performed a test measuring impulsiveness and answered a questionnaire about their presence feeling while they were exposed to the virtual roller coaster scenario.

Results: Application of cathodal tDCS to the right dlPFC while subjects were exposed to a virtual roller coaster scenario modulates the electrodermal response to the virtual reality stimulus. In addition, measures reflecting impulsiveness were also modulated by application of cathodal tDCS to the right dlPFC.

Conclusion: Modulating the activation with the right dlPFC results in substantial changes in responses of the vegetative nervous system and changed impulsiveness. The effects can be explained by theories discussing the top-down influence of the right dlPFC on the "impulsive system".

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Example still figures of the used rollercoaster scenario. Ascending phase (left, 30 s), dynamic phase (middle, 60 s), end phase (right, 12 s).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Experimental design. Sequence of the different tasks and tDCS applications. The time scale is in seconds. This sequence was repeated three times per subject for the three stimulating conditions (sham, anodal, cathodal).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Number of false alarms (FA) in the different conditions in the Go-Nogo task. Applying cathodal tDCS to the right dlPFC led to an enhanced number of FA (p

Figure 4

Skin conductance level of the…

Figure 4

Skin conductance level of the first 30 seconds of the rollercoaster ride. Cathodal…

Figure 4
Skin conductance level of the first 30 seconds of the rollercoaster ride. Cathodal tDCS application (inhibition) to the right dlPFC led to an enhanced skin conductance response (SCR).

Figure 5

Peak of skin conductance level…

Figure 5

Peak of skin conductance level (maximum SCL) in the first 12 seconds of…

Figure 5
Peak of skin conductance level (maximum SCL) in the first 12 seconds of the roller coaster ride. Cathodal tDCS application (inhibition of the dlPFC) leads to significantly enhanced maximum SCL (p
Similar articles
Cited by
References
    1. Baumgartner T, Valko L, Esslen M, Jancke L. Neural Correlate of Spatial Presence in an Arousing and Noninteractive Virtual Reality: An EEG and Psychophysiology Study. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2006;9:30–45. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9.30. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Vorderer P, Wirth W, Gouveia FR, Biocca F, Saari T, Jäncke F, Böcking S, Schramm H, Gysberg A, Hartmann T, Klimmt C, Laarni J, Ravaja N, Sacau A, Baumgartner T, Jäncke P. MEC Spatial Presence Questionnaire (MEC-SPQ): Short documentation and Instructions for Application. Report to the European Community, Project Presence: MEC (IST-2001-37661) 2004.
    1. Slater M. Presence and emotions. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2004;7:121. doi: 10.1089/109493104322820200. author reply 123. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Slater M, Pertaub DP, Barker C, Clark DM. An experimental study on fear of public speaking using a virtual environment. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2006;9:627–633. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9.627. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Sanchez-Vives MV, Slater M. From presence to consciousness through virtual reality. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2005;6:332–339. doi: 10.1038/nrn1651. - DOI - PubMed
Show all 30 references
[x]
Cite
Copy Download .nbib
Format: AMA APA MLA NLM
Figure 4
Figure 4
Skin conductance level of the first 30 seconds of the rollercoaster ride. Cathodal tDCS application (inhibition) to the right dlPFC led to an enhanced skin conductance response (SCR).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Peak of skin conductance level (maximum SCL) in the first 12 seconds of the roller coaster ride. Cathodal tDCS application (inhibition of the dlPFC) leads to significantly enhanced maximum SCL (p

References

    1. Baumgartner T, Valko L, Esslen M, Jancke L. Neural Correlate of Spatial Presence in an Arousing and Noninteractive Virtual Reality: An EEG and Psychophysiology Study. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2006;9:30–45. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9.30.
    1. Vorderer P, Wirth W, Gouveia FR, Biocca F, Saari T, Jäncke F, Böcking S, Schramm H, Gysberg A, Hartmann T, Klimmt C, Laarni J, Ravaja N, Sacau A, Baumgartner T, Jäncke P. MEC Spatial Presence Questionnaire (MEC-SPQ): Short documentation and Instructions for Application. Report to the European Community, Project Presence: MEC (IST-2001-37661) 2004.
    1. Slater M. Presence and emotions. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2004;7:121. doi: 10.1089/109493104322820200. author reply 123.
    1. Slater M, Pertaub DP, Barker C, Clark DM. An experimental study on fear of public speaking using a virtual environment. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2006;9:627–633. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9.627.
    1. Sanchez-Vives MV, Slater M. From presence to consciousness through virtual reality. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2005;6:332–339. doi: 10.1038/nrn1651.
    1. Liebetanz D, Nitsche MA, Tergau F, Paulus W. Pharmacological approach to the mechanisms of transcranial DC-stimulation-induced after-effects of human motor cortex excitability. Brain. 2002;125:2238–2247. doi: 10.1093/brain/awf238.
    1. Nitsche MA, Paulus W. Excitability changes induced in the human motor cortex by weak transcranial direct current stimulation. J Physiol. 2000;527:633–639. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.t01-1-00633.x.
    1. Nitsche MA, Paulus W. Sustained excitability elevations induced by transcranial DC motor cortex stimulation in humans. Neurology. 2001;57:1899–1901.
    1. Ohn SH, Park CI, Yoo WK, Ko MH, Choi KP, Kim GM, Lee YT, Kim YH. Time-dependent effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on the enhancement of working memory. Neuroreport. 2008;19:43–47.
    1. Fregni F, Boggio PS, Nitsche M, Bermpohl F, Antal A, Feredoes E, Marcolin MA, Rigonatti SP, Silva MT, Paulus W, Pascual-Leone A. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of prefrontal cortex enhances working memory. Exp Brain Res. 2005;166:23–30. doi: 10.1007/s00221-005-2334-6.
    1. Iyer MB, Mattu U, Grafman J, Lomarev M, Sato S, Wassermann EM. Safety and cognitive effect of frontal DC brain polarization in healthy individuals. Neurology. 2005;64:872–875.
    1. Hummel F, Celnik P, Giraux P, Floel A, Wu WH, Gerloff C, Cohen LG. Effects of non-invasive cortical stimulation on skilled motor function in chronic stroke. Brain. 2005;128:490–499. doi: 10.1093/brain/awh369.
    1. Vines BW, Nair DG, Schlaug G. Contralateral and ipsilateral motor effects after transcranial direct current stimulation. Neuroreport. 2006;17:671–674. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200604240-00023.
    1. Vines BW, Schnider NM, Schlaug G. Testing for causality with transcranial direct current stimulation: pitch memory and the left supramarginal gyrus. Neuroreport. 2006;17:1047–1050. doi: 10.1097/01.wnr.0000223396.05070.a2.
    1. Wood JN, Grafman J. Human Prefrontal Cortex: Processing and Representational Perspectives. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2003;4:139–147. doi: 10.1038/nrn1033.
    1. Bechara A. Decision making, impulse control and loss of willpower to resist drugs: a neurocognitive perspective. Nat Neurosci. 2005;8:1458–1463. doi: 10.1038/nn1584.
    1. Gogtay N, Giedd JN, Lusk L, Hayashi KM, Greenstein D, Vaituzis CA, Nugent TF, Herman DH, Clasen LS, Toga AW, Rapoport JL, Thompson PM. Dynamic mapping of human cortical development during childhood through early adulthood. PNAS. 2004;101:8174–8179. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0402680101.
    1. Chambers AR, Taylor JR, Potenza MN. Developmental Neurocircuitry of Motivation in Adolescence: A Critical Period of Addiction Vulnerability. Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160:1041–1052. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.6.1041.
    1. Menon V, Adleman NE, White CD, Glover GH, Reiss AL. Error-related brain activation during a Go/NoGo response inhibition task. Hum Brain Mapp. 2001;12:131–143. doi: 10.1002/1097-0193(200103)12:3<131::AID-HBM1010>;2-C.
    1. Boggio PS, Bermpohl F, Vergara AO, Muniz ALCR, Nahas FH, Leme PB, Rigonatti SP, Fregni F. Go-no-go task performance improvement after anodal transcranial DC stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in major depression. J Affect Disord. 2007;101:91–98. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2006.10.026.
    1. Bermpohl F, Fregni F, Boggio PS, Thut G, Northoff G, Otachi PTM, Rigonatti SP, Marcolin MA, Pascual-Leone A. Effect of low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation on an affective go/no-go task in patients with major depression: Role of stimulation site and depression severity. Psychiatry Res. 2006;141:1–13. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2005.07.018.
    1. Knoch D, Gianotti LR, Pascual-Leone A, Treyer V, Regard M, Hohmann M, Brugger P. Disruption of right prefrontal cortex by low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation induces risk-taking behavior. J Neurosci. 2006;26:6469–6472. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0804-06.2006.
    1. Jäncke L, Brunner B, Esslen M. Brain activation during fast driving in a driving simulator: The role of the lateral prefrontal cortex. Neuroreport. 2008;19:1127–1130.
    1. Knoch D, Pascual-Leone A, Meyer K, Treyer V, Fehr E. Diminishing reciprocal fairness by disrupting the right prefrontal cortex. Science. 2006;314:829–832. doi: 10.1126/science.1129156.
    1. Annett M. A classification of hand preference by association analysis. Br J Psychol. 1970;61:303–321.
    1. Zimmermann P, Fimm B. A test battery for attentional performance. In: Leclercq M, Zimmermann P, editor. Applied Neuropsychology of Attention Theory, Diagnosis and Rehabilitation. 2002. pp. 110–151.
    1. Zuckerman M. The sensation seeking motive. Prog Exp Pers Res. 1974;7:79–148.
    1. Zuckerman M. The psychophysiology of sensation seeking. J Pers. 1990;58:313–345. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1990.tb00918.x.
    1. Holm S. A simple sequentially rejective multiple test procedure. Scand J Stat. 1979;6:65–70.
    1. Knoch D. Funktionelle Hemisphärenasymmetrie der Selbstkontrolle. Z Neuropsych. 2007;18:183–192. doi: 10.1024/1016-264X.18.3.183.

Source: PubMed

Sponsors et collaborateurs

Les conditions médicales

Interventions en matière de drogue

3
S'abonner