Abstract

The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) is implicated in anticipatory (i.e. during anticipation of emotional stimuli) and online (i.e. during confrontation with emotional stimuli) emotion regulatory processes. However, research that investigates the causal role of the lDLPFC in these processes is lacking. In this study, 74 participants received active or sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the lDLPFC. Participants were told strangers evaluated them. These (rigged) social evaluations were presented, and in 50% of the trials, participants could anticipate the valence (positive or negative) of the upcoming social feedback. Pupil dilation (a marker of cognitive resource allocation) and skin conductance responses (a marker of arousal) were measured. The results indicate that active (compared to sham) tDCS reduced arousal during the confrontation with anticipated feedback but only marginally during the confrontation with unanticipated feedback. When participants were given the opportunity to anticipate the social feedback, tDCS reduced arousal, irrespective of whether one was anticipating or being confronted with the anticipated feedback. Moreover, tDCS reduced cognitive resource allocation during anticipation, which was associated with resource allocation increases during the subsequent confrontation. Altogether, results suggest that the lDLPFC is causally implicated in the interplay between anticipatory and online emotion regulatory processes.

中文翻译：

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注意社会反馈：应用于左侧 DLPFC 的 tDCS 对预期和接受社会评价期间的心理生理反应的影响

摘要

左背外侧前额叶皮层（lDLPFC）与预期（即在预期情绪刺激期间）和在线（即在与情绪刺激对抗期间）情绪调节过程有关。然而，缺乏调查 lDLPFC 在这些过程中的因果作用的研究。在这项研究中，74 名参与者通过 lDLPFC 接受了主动或假经颅直流电刺激 (tDCS)。参与者被告知陌生人评估他们。呈现了这些（被操纵的）社会评价，在 50% 的试验中，参与者可以预测即将到来的社会反馈的效价（正面或负面）。测量瞳孔扩张（认知资源分配的标志）和皮肤电导反应（唤醒的标志）。结果表明，主动（与假）tDCS 在与预期反馈对抗期间减少了唤醒，但在与意外反馈对抗期间仅略微减少。当参与者有机会预测社会反馈时，tDCS 会减少唤醒，无论一个人是期待还是面对预期的反馈。此外，tDCS 减少了预期期间的认知资源分配，这与随后对抗期间的资源分配增加有关。总之，结果表明 lDLPFC 与预期和在线情绪调节过程之间的相互作用有因果关系。当参与者有机会预测社会反馈时，tDCS 会减少唤醒，无论一个人是期待还是面对预期的反馈。此外，tDCS 减少了预期期间的认知资源分配，这与随后对抗期间的资源分配增加有关。总之，结果表明 lDLPFC 与预期和在线情绪调节过程之间的相互作用有因果关系。当参与者有机会预测社会反馈时，tDCS 会减少唤醒，无论一个人是期待还是面对预期的反馈。此外，tDCS 减少了预期期间的认知资源分配，这与随后对抗期间的资源分配增加有关。总之，结果表明 lDLPFC 与预期和在线情绪调节过程之间的相互作用有因果关系。