Enhancing reappraisal of negative emotional memories with transcranial direct current stimulation
Abstract Reappraisal of negative memories and experiences is central for mental health and well-being. Deficiency of reappraisal lies at the core of many psychiatric disorders and is a key target for treatment. Here we apply transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance reappraisal of ne...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93647-1 |
| _version_ | 1818752021622161408 |
|---|---|
| author | Nadja Doerig Rosa J. Seinsche Marius Moisa Erich Seifritz Christian C. Ruff Birgit Kleim |
| author_facet | Nadja Doerig Rosa J. Seinsche Marius Moisa Erich Seifritz Christian C. Ruff Birgit Kleim |
| author_sort | Nadja Doerig |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Reappraisal of negative memories and experiences is central for mental health and well-being. Deficiency of reappraisal lies at the core of many psychiatric disorders and is a key target for treatment. Here we apply transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance reappraisal of negative emotional memories. In a randomised, sham-controlled, 2 × 2 between-subject and double-blinded study, we applied single sessions of anodal and sham tDCS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of 101 healthy participants while reappraising a personal negative memory or engaging in a control task. We hypothesised that (i) reappraisal decreases negative valence, arousal and evaluations of the memory and leads to improved decision making, and (ii) tDCS leads to additional changes in these reappraisal outcomes. In line with these hypotheses, participants’ personal memories were rated as less negative and less arousing following reappraisal. Anodal tDCS during reappraisal was associated with significant short-term reductions in negative valence compared to sham stimulation. Our results indicate that tDCS may enhance some of the effects of reappraisal. If replicated, our findings suggest potential benefits elicited by tDCS stimulation that may help optimise current treatment approaches for psychiatric disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:44:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d3ec75c72da4102b221c6cf78c1d173 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T04:44:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d3ec75c72da4102b221c6cf78c1d1732022-12-21T21:20:37ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-07-0111111110.1038/s41598-021-93647-1Enhancing reappraisal of negative emotional memories with transcranial direct current stimulationNadja Doerig0Rosa J. Seinsche1Marius Moisa2Erich Seifritz3Christian C. Ruff4Birgit Kleim5Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital ZurichDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital ZurichDepartment of Economics, Urich Center for Neuroeconomics (ZNE), University of ZurichDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital ZurichDepartment of Economics, Urich Center for Neuroeconomics (ZNE), University of ZurichDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital ZurichAbstract Reappraisal of negative memories and experiences is central for mental health and well-being. Deficiency of reappraisal lies at the core of many psychiatric disorders and is a key target for treatment. Here we apply transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance reappraisal of negative emotional memories. In a randomised, sham-controlled, 2 × 2 between-subject and double-blinded study, we applied single sessions of anodal and sham tDCS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) of 101 healthy participants while reappraising a personal negative memory or engaging in a control task. We hypothesised that (i) reappraisal decreases negative valence, arousal and evaluations of the memory and leads to improved decision making, and (ii) tDCS leads to additional changes in these reappraisal outcomes. In line with these hypotheses, participants’ personal memories were rated as less negative and less arousing following reappraisal. Anodal tDCS during reappraisal was associated with significant short-term reductions in negative valence compared to sham stimulation. Our results indicate that tDCS may enhance some of the effects of reappraisal. If replicated, our findings suggest potential benefits elicited by tDCS stimulation that may help optimise current treatment approaches for psychiatric disorders.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93647-1 |
| spellingShingle | Nadja Doerig Rosa J. Seinsche Marius Moisa Erich Seifritz Christian C. Ruff Birgit Kleim Enhancing reappraisal of negative emotional memories with transcranial direct current stimulation Scientific Reports |
| title | Enhancing reappraisal of negative emotional memories with transcranial direct current stimulation |
| title_full | Enhancing reappraisal of negative emotional memories with transcranial direct current stimulation |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing reappraisal of negative emotional memories with transcranial direct current stimulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing reappraisal of negative emotional memories with transcranial direct current stimulation |
| title_short | Enhancing reappraisal of negative emotional memories with transcranial direct current stimulation |
| title_sort | enhancing reappraisal of negative emotional memories with transcranial direct current stimulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93647-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nadjadoerig enhancingreappraisalofnegativeemotionalmemorieswithtranscranialdirectcurrentstimulation AT rosajseinsche enhancingreappraisalofnegativeemotionalmemorieswithtranscranialdirectcurrentstimulation AT mariusmoisa enhancingreappraisalofnegativeemotionalmemorieswithtranscranialdirectcurrentstimulation AT erichseifritz enhancingreappraisalofnegativeemotionalmemorieswithtranscranialdirectcurrentstimulation AT christiancruff enhancingreappraisalofnegativeemotionalmemorieswithtranscranialdirectcurrentstimulation AT birgitkleim enhancingreappraisalofnegativeemotionalmemorieswithtranscranialdirectcurrentstimulation |