The Effect of Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior
The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Prefrontal Cortex on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior
1 other identifier
interventional
84
1 country
1
Brief Summary
This study investigates the effect of upregulating prefrontal cortex activity on antisocial and aggressive behavior and risk factors for such behavior. In the double-blind, randomized controlled trial, participants will undergo anodal transcranial direct current stimulation bilaterally to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or a sham stimulation. During and after stimulation, they will complete survey and laboratory measures assessing antisocial and aggressive behavior and risk factors for antisocial and aggressive behavior. Heart rate and skin conductance will also be measured.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable
Started Mar 2015
Longer than P75 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
March 1, 2015
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
March 26, 2015
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
April 28, 2015
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
December 1, 2017
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 1, 2018
CompletedResults Posted
Study results publicly available
August 28, 2019
CompletedAugust 28, 2019
August 1, 2019
2.8 years
March 26, 2015
February 22, 2019
August 14, 2019
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (2)
Change in Antisocial Behavior Inclinations at 24 Hours
This will be assessed using hypothetical scenarios in which someone commits a criminal or antisocial act. The two brief scenarios describe a physical assault and a sexual assault. Participants will respond to the likelihood that they would commit the act in the scenario according to a 10-point Likert scale. Responses were measured on a scale ranging from zero (no chance at all) to ten (100 percent chance). Scores for both scenarios were summed to obtain an overall measure of intentions to commit aggression. Possible scores range from 0 to 20. A higher value indicates a greater inclination to engage in the antisocial act.
Baseline (an average of 15 minutes before receiving tDCS or sham) and on average, 24 hours following stimulation or sham
Number of Pins Inserted Into a Virtual Voodoo Doll at 24 Hours
The number of pins (between 0 and 51) that participants decide to insert into a picture of a voodoo doll on a computer that represents either a romantic partner or close friend will be recorded on average 24 hours after receiving tDCS or sham stimulation.
On average, 24 hours after the tDCS or sham session
Study Arms (2)
Anodal stimulation
EXPERIMENTALParticipants in the active stimulation group will undergo anodal bilateral transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. tDCS will be delivered by a battery-driven, constant-current stimulator connected to three saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes. Two anodal electrodes (25cm2) will be placed over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex bilaterally and one cathodal electrode (35cm2) will be placed at the back of the neck. Scalp electrodes will be positioned over the F3 and F4 according to the 10-20 EEG international system. A current of 1mA will be applied for 20 minutes and the current will be ramped up and down at the beginning and end of the stimulation period.
Sham stimulation
SHAM COMPARATORThe sham transcranial direct current stimulation condition will involve the same placement of the electrodes, current intensity, and ramp time as the real tDCS condition, but stimulation will only last for 30 seconds.
Interventions
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Above 18 years of age
- Able to understand the nature of the study and give informed consent
You may not qualify if:
- History of or active neurologic, cardiovascular, or psychiatric disease
- Currently consuming anti-convulsant, anti-psychotic, or sedative/hypnotic medications
- Currently consuming anti-depressants
- History of seizures
- Metallic implants on the scalp
- Participation in other transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or tDCS experiments on the same day
- History of adverse reactions to tDCS
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
Related Publications (1)
Choy O, Raine A, Hamilton RH. Stimulation of the Prefrontal Cortex Reduces Intentions to Commit Aggression: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Stratified, Parallel-Group Trial. J Neurosci. 2018 Jul 18;38(29):6505-6512. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3317-17.2018. Epub 2018 Jul 2.
PMID: 29967006RESULT
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Results Point of Contact
- Title
- Dr. Olivia Choy
- Organization
- Nanyang Technological University
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Adrian Raine, DPhil
University of Pennsylvania
Publication Agreements
- PI is Sponsor Employee
- No
- Restrictive Agreement
- No
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
- Purpose
- BASIC SCIENCE
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
March 26, 2015
First Posted
April 28, 2015
Study Start
March 1, 2015
Primary Completion
December 1, 2017
Study Completion
December 1, 2018
Last Updated
August 28, 2019
Results First Posted
August 28, 2019
Record last verified: 2019-08