rTMS stimulation on left DLPFC increases the correct recognition of memories for emotional target and distractor words

Abstract

According to a recent hypothesis, the prefrontal cortex has been proposed as the site of emotional memory integration, because it is sensitive to the recognition of emotional contents. In the present research, we explored the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in memory recognition processes for positive versus negative emotional stimuli when old (target) and new (distractor, either semantically related or unrelated to the target) stimuli were presented. The role of the DLPFC was analysed using an rTMS (repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation) paradigm that induced increased cortical activation of the left DLPFC. The subjects were required to perform a task that consisted of two experimental phases (i.e., an encoding and a recognition phase) in which the targets and the distractors were presented and recognition performance was measured. rTMS stimulation was provided over the left DLPFC during the recognition phase. We found that the rTMS stimulation affected the memory recognition of positive emotional material. Moreover, related and unrelated distractors were discarded better when they were positively valenced, and a more significant effect (i.e., increased performance) was produced in response to related distractors. This result suggests that the activation of the left DLPFC favours the memory recognition of positive emotional information, and that such activation is able to induce a more appropriate selective process to distinguish target from distractor stimuli in the presence of more complex processes (related distractors). The valence model of emotional cue processing may explain this increased performance by demonstrating the distinct role of the left hemisphere in the retrieval of positive emotional information.

Emotions and BIS/BAS components affect brain activity (ERPs and fNIRS) in observing intra-species and inter-species interactions

“…In addition, the PFC contribution in processing emotional interactions was confirmed by the hemodynamic and ERP profiles for both HH and HA. This result confirmed previous research which found that PFC plays a crucial role in the integration of different aspects of cognition, memory, and emotional regulation by managing the cognitive control over emotional stimuli and emotional behavior (Balconi and Ferrari 2012;Hariri et al 2000;Kalish and Robins 2006;Knight et al 1999;Miller and Cohen 2001). Therefore we may suggest a specific prefrontal cortical area may mediate the emotional processing by subjects who are observing inter-subjective interactions, independently from the human or not-human specificity of this interaction.…”

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, working memory and episodic memory processes: insight through transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques

“…Several studies provide evidence for the hypothesis called the "valence model", which states that withdrawal-related emotions are located in the right hemisphere whereas approach-related emotions are biased to the left hemisphere [36,38] . Focusing on the TMS technique, Balconi et al [39,40] found an increased facilitation of the retrieval of positive emotional cues (in terms of reduced response times) under stimulation of the left DLPFC during the retrieval phase. on the contrary, the memory performance relative to negative information was not influenced by left frontal stimulation.…”

Conscious, Pre-Conscious and Unconscious Mechanisms in Emotional Behaviour. Some Applications to the Mindfulness Approach with Wearable Devices

“…Specifically, with regard to the development of an integrated sense of self and its representations in the future, mindfulness practice might have a positive effect on the activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is implicated in social perspective-taking, self-monitoring, emotional regulation, and coding of affective responses and emotionally-connoted information [54][55][56][57][58][59].…”