Transcranial alternating current stimulation increases risk-taking behavior in the balloon analog risk task

Tal Sela, Adi Kilim, Michal Lavidor, Tal Sela, Adi Kilim, Michal Lavidor

Abstract

The process of evaluating risks and benefits involves a complex neural network that includes the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). It has been proposed that in conflict and reward situations, theta-band (4-8 Hz) oscillatory activity in the frontal cortex may reflect an electrophysiological mechanism for coordinating neural networks monitoring behavior, as well as facilitating task-specific adaptive changes. The goal of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis that theta-band oscillatory balance between right and left frontal and prefrontal regions, with a predominance role to the right hemisphere (RH), is crucial for regulatory control during decision-making under risk. In order to explore this hypothesis, we used transcranial alternating current stimulation, a novel technique that provides the opportunity to explore the functional role of neuronal oscillatory activities and to establish a causal link between specific oscillations and functional lateralization in risky decision-making situations. For this aim, healthy participants were randomly allocated to one of three stimulation groups (LH stimulation/RH stimulation/Sham stimulation), with active AC stimulation delivered in a frequency-dependent manner (at 6.5 Hz; 1 mA peak-to-peak). During the AC stimulation, participants performed the Balloon Analog Risk Task. This experiment revealed that participants receiving LH stimulation displayed riskier decision-making style compared to sham and RH stimulation groups. However, there was no difference in decision-making behaviors between sham and RH stimulation groups. The current study extends the notion that DLPFC activity is critical for adaptive decision-making in the context of risk-taking and emphasis the role of theta-band oscillatory activity during risky decision-making situations.

Keywords: BART; DLPFC; lateralization; risk-taking; theta-band oscillations.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of the study design. Participants arrived at the lab, answered the BIS/BAS scales (Carver and White, 1994), and were randomly assigned into one of three stimulation conditions: left, right, or sham stimulation. After a short practice, sham or AC stimulation administered and lasted a total of 15 min, with 6.5 Hz, 1 mA peak-to-peak intensity in the active stimulation conditions. The stimulation started 5 min before the task began and was delivered during the entire course of the BART, which lasted <10 min. Before and after stimulation and the BART participants performed the line-bisection task.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Graphic display of the average number of adjusted pumps (the total pumps of the balloon that did not explode) for each stimulation group (A) and the average number of adjusted pumps for each group and time period (B). Error bars indicate SEM. *p < 0.05.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Graphic display of the different balloon explosions frequencies dependent measures. (A) Explosions.Tot = total number of balloon explosions; (B) One-time = total number of one-time balloon explosions; (C) Seq.Tot = total number of sequential balloon explosion; (D) Max.Seq = maximum number of balloon explosions in a sequence. Error bars indicate SEM. *p < 0.05. **p < 0.01.

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