Citation

Yaple Z, Martinez-Saito M, Feurra M, Shestakova A, Klucharev V. eNeuro 2017; 4(6): e136-17.

Affiliation

School of Psychology, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow 109316, Russian Federation.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Society for Neuroscience)

DOI

10.1523/ENEURO.0136-17.2017

PMID

29379865

PMCID

PMC5779115

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effect of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on voluntary risky decision making and executive control in humans. Stimulation was delivered online at 5 Hz (θ), 10 Hz (α), 20 Hz (β), and 40 Hz (γ) on the left and right frontal area while participants performed a modified risky decision-making task. This task allowed participants to voluntarily select between risky and certain decisions associated with potential gains or losses, while simultaneously measuring the cognitive control component (voluntary switching) of decision making. The purpose of this experimental design was to test whether voluntary risky decision making and executive control can be modulated with tACS in a frequency-specific manner. Our results revealed a robust effect of a 20-Hz stimulation over the left prefrontal area that significantly increased voluntary risky decision making, which may suggest a possible link between risky decision making and reward processing, underlined by β-oscillatory activity.

Language: en

Keywords

20-Hz stimulation; frontal hemisphere; reward; risky decision making; task switching; transcranial alternating current stimulation