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Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title Enhancing reappraisal of negative emotional memories with transcranial direct current stimulation
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Nadja Doerig
  • Rosa J Seinsche
  • Marius Moisa
  • Erich Seifritz
  • Christian Ruff
  • Birgit Kleim
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Scientific Reports
Publisher Nature Publishing Group
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 2045-2322
Volume 11
Number 14760
Page Range online
Date 2021
Abstract Text 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.
Free access at DOI
Digital Object Identifier 10.1038/s41598-021-93647-1
Other Identification Number merlin-id:21446
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Keywords Cognitive neuroscience, human behaviour