The stimulated social brain: effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on social cognition

Sellaro, Roberta; Nitsche, Michael A.; Colzato, Lorenza S.

doi:10.1111/nyas.13098

Cited by 88 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 184 publications

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“…Despite consistent behavioural evidence for the efficacy of tDCS to affect social cognitive processes (Sellaro et al, 2016), little is known about how tDCS affects brain function. However, recent evidence suggests that HD-tDCS to the rTPJ increases low-frequency oscillatory activity that may exert inhibitory effects at the network-level and enable switching between endogenous and exogenous processing streams (Donaldson et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The right temporoparietal junction is causally associated with embodied perspective taking

Martin

Kessler

Cooke

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Several theories exist pertaining to the role of the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) in social cognition. A prominent theory claims the rTPJ is especially associated with embodied processes. In the present study we use high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) to provide evidence that the rTPJ is causally associated with the embodied processes underpinning perspective taking. Eighty-eight young human adults were stratified to receive either rTPJ or dorsomedial prefrontal (dmPFC) anodal HD-tDCS in a sham-controlled, double-blind, repeated-measures design. Perspective tracking (line-of-sight) and perspective taking (embodied rotation) were assessed using a visuo-spatial perspective taking (VPT) task that required understanding what another person could see or how they see it, respectively. Embodied processing was manipulated by positioning the participant in a manner congruent or incongruent with the orientation of an avatar on the screen. As perspective taking, but not perspective tracking, is influenced by bodily posture, this allows the investigation of the specific causal role for the rTPJ in embodied processing. Crucially, anodal stimulation to the rTPJ increased the effect of bodily posture during perspective taking, whereas no such effects were identified during perspective tracking, thereby providing evidence for a causal role for the rTPJ in the embodied component of perspective taking. Stimulation to the dmPFC had no effect on perspective tracking or taking. Therefore, the present study provides support for theories postulating that the rTPJ is causally involved in embodied cognitive processing relevant to social functioning.Significance StatementThe ability to understand another’s perspective is a fundamental component of social functioning. Adopting another perspective is thought to involve both embodied and non-embodied processes. The present study used high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and provided causal evidence that the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) is involved specifically in the embodied component of perspective taking. Specifically, HD-tDCS to the rTPJ, but not another hub of the social brain (dmPFC), increased the effect of body posture during perspective taking, but not tracking. This is the first causal evidence that HD-tDCS can modulate social embodied processing in a site-specific and task-specific manner.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The right temporoparietal junction is causally associated with embodied perspective taking

Martin

Kessler

Cooke

et al. 2019

Preprint

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“…Furthermore, an important discussion surrounding tDCS research is related to how reproducibility of reported effects should be evaluated49. A recent review50 on the effects of tDCS on social cognition pointed out that some studies produced results inconsistent to each other, likely due to methodological differences (e.g., intensity and duration of the stimulation, online vs. offline stimulation, electrode size, scalp placement, study design, experimental task). Therefore, more research, based on larger samples, different tasks, and including population of patients with ToM deficit, is needed to elucidate the reasons for these discrepancies and to verify whether the observed tDCS-induced changes in social cognition are maintained across studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender differences in cognitive Theory of Mind revealed by transcranial direct current stimulation on medial prefrontal cortex

Adenzato

Brambilla

Manenti

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

103

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Gender differences in social cognition are a long discussed issue, in particular those concerning Theory of Mind (ToM), i.e., the ability to explain and predict other people’s mental states. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to test the hypothesis that anodal tDCS over the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) selectively enhances cognitive ToM performance in females. In the first experiment we administered to sixteen females and sixteen males a cognitive ToM task during anodal or placebo tDCS over the mPFC. In the second experiment further sixteen females completed the task receiving anodal or placebo tDCS over the vertex. The results showed that anodal tDCS over the mPFC enhances ToM in females but not in males, an effect indicated by enhanced ToM in females that received anodal tDCS over the mPFC compared with females that received tDCS over the vertex. These findings are relevant for three reasons. First, we found evidence of gender-related differences in cognitive ToM, extending previous findings concerning affective ToM. Second, these differences emerge with anodal stimulation of the mPFC, confirming the crucial role of this area in cognitive ToM. Third, we show that taking into account gender-related differences is mandatory for the investigation of ToM.

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“…Results are very preliminary, however, and no studies have examined the impacts of TPJ modulation in terms of social‐cognitive performance relevant to autism. Nor have prior studies examined neurophysiological correlates of behavioural outcomes, which is important in terms of understanding the spatiotemporal effects of stimulation protocols, identifying potential candidate neurological mechanisms of modulatory effects and increasing the likelihood/possibility of translational clinical applications (Shafi et al ., ; Sellaro et al ., ). One way to begin exploring in this regard is by utilising the notion that autism‐relevant traits extend into the general population in a continuum (Constantino & Todd, ; Jung et al ., ; Ruzich et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Autism‐relevant traits interact with temporoparietal junction stimulation effects on social cognition: a high‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation and electroencephalography study

Donaldson

Kirkovski

Rinehart

et al. 2017

Eur J of Neuroscience

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The temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is implicated in mental and emotional state attribution, processes associated with autism-relevant traits. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the TPJ can influence social-cognitive performance. However, associations with electrophysiology and autism-relevant traits remain relatively unexamined. This study had two aims: first, exploring links between Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores and social-cognitive performance; second, examining interactions between AQ scores and high-definition-tDCS (HD-tDCS) applied to the right TPJ in terms of mental/emotional state attribution and neurophysiological outcomes. Fifty-three participants completed mental/emotional state attribution tasks before and after HD-tDCS. Pre-stimulation mental state attribution accuracy was reduced in participants with higher AQ Switching scores. Cathodal stimulation was associated with reduced emotion attribution performance in participants with higher AQ Switching and AQ Social scores (the latter at trend-level). Anodal stimulation more frequently interacted with AQ Social scores in terms of neurophysiology, in particular regarding reduced delta power in the left compared to right TPJ, and trend-level positive interactions with P100 and P300 latencies during the emotion recognition task. Elements of attention/switching (AQ Switching) may subserve or underpin elements of social cognition (AQ Social), and cathodal and anodal stimulation may have differing effects depending on trait levels in these domains. This study makes an important and original contribution in terms of increasing understanding of how such trait-level variation might interact with the effects of tDCS and also extending previous studies with regard to understanding potential roles of the rTPJ in both attention and social cognition and how autism-relevant traits might influence TPJ function.

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The stimulated social brain: effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on social cognition

Cited by 88 publications

References 184 publications

The right temporoparietal junction is causally associated with embodied perspective taking

The right temporoparietal junction is causally associated with embodied perspective taking

Gender differences in cognitive Theory of Mind revealed by transcranial direct current stimulation on medial prefrontal cortex

Autism‐relevant traits interact with temporoparietal junction stimulation effects on social cognition: a high‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation and electroencephalography study

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