The Effects of a Single Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Session on Impulsivity and Risk Among a Sample of Adult Recreational Cannabis Users
Individuals with substance use disorders exhibit risk-taking behaviors, potentially leading to negative consequences and difficulty maintaining recovery. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have yielded mixed effects on risk-taking among h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2022.758285/full |
| _version_ | 1818683076615602176 |
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| author | Herry Patel Katherine Naish Noam Soreni Michael Amlung Michael Amlung Michael Amlung |
| author_facet | Herry Patel Katherine Naish Noam Soreni Michael Amlung Michael Amlung Michael Amlung |
| author_sort | Herry Patel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Individuals with substance use disorders exhibit risk-taking behaviors, potentially leading to negative consequences and difficulty maintaining recovery. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have yielded mixed effects on risk-taking among healthy controls. Given the importance of risk-taking behaviors among substance-using samples, this study aimed to examine the effects of tDCS on risk-taking among a sample of adults using cannabis. Using a double-blind design, 27 cannabis users [M(SD) age = 32.48 (1.99), 41% female] were randomized, receiving one session of active or sham tDCS over the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Stimulation parameters closely followed prior studies with anodal right dlPFC and cathodal left dlPFC stimulation. Risk-taking—assessed via a modified Cambridge Gambling Task—was measured before and during tDCS. Delay and probability discounting tasks were assessed before and after stimulation. No significant effects of stimulation on risk-taking behavior were found. However, participants chose the less risky option ∼86% of the trials before stimulation which potentially contributed to ceiling effects. These results contradict one prior study showing increased risk-taking among cannabis users following tDCS. There was a significant increase in delay discounting of a $1000 delayed reward during stimulation for the sham group only, but no significant effects for probability discounting. The current study adds to conflicting and inconclusive literature on tDCS and cognition among substance-using samples. In conclusion, results suggest the ineffectiveness of single session dlPFC tDCS using an established stimulation protocol on risk-taking, although ceiling effects at baseline may have also prevented behavior change following tDCS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:28:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-49113e285fa94eadbd37cd53b0405c3f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:28:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-49113e285fa94eadbd37cd53b0405c3f2022-12-21T21:52:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612022-02-011610.3389/fnhum.2022.758285758285The Effects of a Single Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Session on Impulsivity and Risk Among a Sample of Adult Recreational Cannabis UsersHerry Patel0Katherine Naish1Noam Soreni2Michael Amlung3Michael Amlung4Michael Amlung5Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaPeter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton & McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaPeter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton & McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaDepartment of Applied Behavioral Science, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United StatesCofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United StatesIndividuals with substance use disorders exhibit risk-taking behaviors, potentially leading to negative consequences and difficulty maintaining recovery. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have yielded mixed effects on risk-taking among healthy controls. Given the importance of risk-taking behaviors among substance-using samples, this study aimed to examine the effects of tDCS on risk-taking among a sample of adults using cannabis. Using a double-blind design, 27 cannabis users [M(SD) age = 32.48 (1.99), 41% female] were randomized, receiving one session of active or sham tDCS over the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Stimulation parameters closely followed prior studies with anodal right dlPFC and cathodal left dlPFC stimulation. Risk-taking—assessed via a modified Cambridge Gambling Task—was measured before and during tDCS. Delay and probability discounting tasks were assessed before and after stimulation. No significant effects of stimulation on risk-taking behavior were found. However, participants chose the less risky option ∼86% of the trials before stimulation which potentially contributed to ceiling effects. These results contradict one prior study showing increased risk-taking among cannabis users following tDCS. There was a significant increase in delay discounting of a $1000 delayed reward during stimulation for the sham group only, but no significant effects for probability discounting. The current study adds to conflicting and inconclusive literature on tDCS and cognition among substance-using samples. In conclusion, results suggest the ineffectiveness of single session dlPFC tDCS using an established stimulation protocol on risk-taking, although ceiling effects at baseline may have also prevented behavior change following tDCS.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2022.758285/fullcannabistranscranial direct current stimulationimpulsivityrisk takingdelay discounting |
| spellingShingle | Herry Patel Katherine Naish Noam Soreni Michael Amlung Michael Amlung Michael Amlung The Effects of a Single Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Session on Impulsivity and Risk Among a Sample of Adult Recreational Cannabis Users Frontiers in Human Neuroscience cannabis transcranial direct current stimulation impulsivity risk taking delay discounting |
| title | The Effects of a Single Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Session on Impulsivity and Risk Among a Sample of Adult Recreational Cannabis Users |
| title_full | The Effects of a Single Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Session on Impulsivity and Risk Among a Sample of Adult Recreational Cannabis Users |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of a Single Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Session on Impulsivity and Risk Among a Sample of Adult Recreational Cannabis Users |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of a Single Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Session on Impulsivity and Risk Among a Sample of Adult Recreational Cannabis Users |
| title_short | The Effects of a Single Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Session on Impulsivity and Risk Among a Sample of Adult Recreational Cannabis Users |
| title_sort | effects of a single transcranial direct current stimulation session on impulsivity and risk among a sample of adult recreational cannabis users |
| topic | cannabis transcranial direct current stimulation impulsivity risk taking delay discounting |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2022.758285/full |
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