Neuromodulation of choice-induced preference changes: the tDCS study of cognitive dissonance
IntroductionDifficult choices between two equally attractive options result in a cognitive discrepancy between dissonant cognitions such as preferences and actions often followed by a sense of psychological discomfort known as cognitive dissonance. It can lead to changes in the desirability of optio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1104410/full |
| _version_ | 1797387309669154816 |
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| author | Elena Rybina Marco Colosio Anna Shestakova Vasily Klucharev |
| author_facet | Elena Rybina Marco Colosio Anna Shestakova Vasily Klucharev |
| author_sort | Elena Rybina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionDifficult choices between two equally attractive options result in a cognitive discrepancy between dissonant cognitions such as preferences and actions often followed by a sense of psychological discomfort known as cognitive dissonance. It can lead to changes in the desirability of options: the chosen option becomes more desirable, whereas the rejected option is devalued. Despite the ample experimental evidence to show this effect, the neural mechanisms and timing of such choice-induced preference changes are not fully understood.MethodsIn this study, we used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to modulate the activity of the posterior medial frontal cortex (pMFC), which has been associated with conflict monitoring and choice-induced preference changes in neuroimaging studies. Prior to a revised version of Brehm’s free-choice paradigm, participants in two experiments underwent cathodal (inhibitory) or anodal (excitatory) tDCS of the pMFC compared to sham (placebo) stimulation prior to the choice phase.ResultsOur results showed that cathodal tDCS significantly decreased the choice-induced preference change relative to a sham, but only in direct comparisons of rejected options. No significant effect of anodal tDCS in comparison with sham was observed.DiscussionThis study replicates the general behavioral effect of cognitive dissonance and provide partial support for the theory of the pMFC contribution to choice-related cognitive dissonance and subsequent preference changes, with possible limitations of an under-sampling for the obtained effect size and an asymmetry in the inhibitory-excitatory effects of non-invasive tDCS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:22:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2aafc19ffbe4483cbf7cbf21d60c13aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:22:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-2aafc19ffbe4483cbf7cbf21d60c13aa2023-12-18T12:42:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-12-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11044101104410Neuromodulation of choice-induced preference changes: the tDCS study of cognitive dissonanceElena RybinaMarco ColosioAnna ShestakovaVasily KlucharevIntroductionDifficult choices between two equally attractive options result in a cognitive discrepancy between dissonant cognitions such as preferences and actions often followed by a sense of psychological discomfort known as cognitive dissonance. It can lead to changes in the desirability of options: the chosen option becomes more desirable, whereas the rejected option is devalued. Despite the ample experimental evidence to show this effect, the neural mechanisms and timing of such choice-induced preference changes are not fully understood.MethodsIn this study, we used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to modulate the activity of the posterior medial frontal cortex (pMFC), which has been associated with conflict monitoring and choice-induced preference changes in neuroimaging studies. Prior to a revised version of Brehm’s free-choice paradigm, participants in two experiments underwent cathodal (inhibitory) or anodal (excitatory) tDCS of the pMFC compared to sham (placebo) stimulation prior to the choice phase.ResultsOur results showed that cathodal tDCS significantly decreased the choice-induced preference change relative to a sham, but only in direct comparisons of rejected options. No significant effect of anodal tDCS in comparison with sham was observed.DiscussionThis study replicates the general behavioral effect of cognitive dissonance and provide partial support for the theory of the pMFC contribution to choice-related cognitive dissonance and subsequent preference changes, with possible limitations of an under-sampling for the obtained effect size and an asymmetry in the inhibitory-excitatory effects of non-invasive tDCS.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1104410/fullcognitive dissonancedecision makingpreference changesmedial frontal cortex (MFC)transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)free choice paradigm |
| spellingShingle | Elena Rybina Marco Colosio Anna Shestakova Vasily Klucharev Neuromodulation of choice-induced preference changes: the tDCS study of cognitive dissonance Frontiers in Psychology cognitive dissonance decision making preference changes medial frontal cortex (MFC) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) free choice paradigm |
| title | Neuromodulation of choice-induced preference changes: the tDCS study of cognitive dissonance |
| title_full | Neuromodulation of choice-induced preference changes: the tDCS study of cognitive dissonance |
| title_fullStr | Neuromodulation of choice-induced preference changes: the tDCS study of cognitive dissonance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuromodulation of choice-induced preference changes: the tDCS study of cognitive dissonance |
| title_short | Neuromodulation of choice-induced preference changes: the tDCS study of cognitive dissonance |
| title_sort | neuromodulation of choice induced preference changes the tdcs study of cognitive dissonance |
| topic | cognitive dissonance decision making preference changes medial frontal cortex (MFC) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) free choice paradigm |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1104410/full |
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