Tuning the brakes – Modulatory role of transcranial random noise stimulation on inhibition

Abstract

BackgroundEveryday decision-making requires the ability to flexibly modify and sometimes terminate our actions, such as avoiding a tempting slice of cake to hitting the brakes in an emergency. Neural oscillations, such as beta-band rhythms observed over the medial prefrontal cortex(mPFC), help regulate these context-dependent behaviours. However, how random noise stimulation would modulate neural rhythms and corresponding inhibitory behaviors remain understudied.ObjectivesTo target the mPFC using random noise stimulation and modulate neural activity underlying inhibitory behaviours.MethodsUsing a single-blinded within-subject design, fifteen participants received random noise or sham stimulation in a pseudo-randomized order while performing a Go/Conflict/No-Go task. We measured neural activity and behavior before and after stimulation.ResultsWe show that random noise stimulation significantly improved inhibitory behaviors (4.6±4.42percent) by reducing the number of errors in No-Go trials. This improvement was a function of participants’ impulsivity-levels and baseline performance, i.e., impulsive individuals who made more baseline errors improved more after receiving stimulation. At the neural level, we show that random noise stimulation increases low-beta power at stimulation site, mediated by an increase in the duration of intermittent beta-bursts.ConclusionWe show for the first time that random noise stimulation improves the ability to withhold response to unexpected inhibitory cues as a function of an individual’s impulsivity level. This improvement could be attributed to increased low-beta band power and intermittent-burst duration. These results suggest that random noise stimulation of the mPFC could potentially be used as a neuromodulatory intervention to target maladaptive behaviors in impulse control disorders.