Modulation of Risky Choices in Recently Abstinent Dependent Cocaine Users: A Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation Study

Abstract

Previous neurobiological and neuropsychological investigations have shown that risk-taking behaviors and addictions share many structural and functional aspects. In particular, both are characterized by an irresistible need to obtain immediate rewards and by specific alterations in brain circuits responsible for such behaviors. In this study, we used transcranial direct-current stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of two samples of subjects (18 dependent cocaine users and 18 control subjects) to investigate the effects of left and right cortical excitability on two risk tasks: (1) the balloon analog risk task (BART) and (2) the game of dice task (GDT). All subjects randomly received a left anodal/right cathodal stimulation (LAn+), a right anodal/left cathodal stimulation (RAn+), and a sham (placebo) stimulation each run at least 48 h apart. Participants were asked to perform the BART and the GDT immediately before and after each stimulation. Our results reveal that the activation of the DLPFC (left and right) results in a reduction of risky behaviors at the BART task both in controls subjects and cocaine dependent users. The effect of tDCS on GDT, instead, is more complex. Cocaine users increased safe behavior after right DLPFC anodal stimulation, while risk-taking behavior increased after left DLPFC anodal stimulation. Control subjects’ performance was only affected by the anodal stimulation of the right DLPFC, resulting in an increase of safe bets. These results support the hypothesis that excessive risk propensity in dependent cocaine users might be due to a hypoactivation of the right DLPFC and an unbalance interhemispheric interaction. In conclusion, since risky decision-making seems to be, at least in part, responsible for maintenance and relapse of addiction, we argue that a neuromodulation-based approach could represent a valuable adjunct in the clinical treatment of addiction.

The effect of the interval-between-sessions on prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Other exclusion criteria were more diverse. Clinical samples of the included studies were on a stable dose (Hoy et al 2014;Kang et al 2012;Knechtel et al 2014a;Powell et al 2014;Vercammen et al 2011;Wolkenstein and Plewnia 2013) or did not take psychiatric medication (Boggio et al 2006;Gorini and Lucchiari 2014). Psychiatric interviews and/or questionnaires were used to screen patients.…”

Transcranial direct current stimulation in psychiatric disorders

“…Cocaine: Goriniet et al [111] used tDCS over the DLPFC in two samples of subjects (18 cocaine dependent users and 18 control subjects) to investigate the effects of increasing cortical excitability after right or left anodal stimulation. The subjects were randomized to receive left-anodal/right-cathodal stimulation, rightanodal/left-cathodal stimulation, or sham (placebo) stimulation; each session was delivered at least 48 h apart.…”

Optimistic Bias in Physical Activity: When Exercise Flows into Addiction

“…In conclusion, the preliminary results of this study may represent an interest point of view for the psychology of addictive behaviors (25,26) because it has the potential to address new interesting questions in the field of prevention and addiction, which are often characterized by an imprecise boundary. We argue that knowledge about this cogInt J High Risk Behav Addict.…”