tDCS Anodic Stimulation of Left Hemisphere DLPFC Regulates Hot Executive Performance

The executive function is a set of higher-level cognitive abilities that control a high level of behavior. The executive function acts in a variety of contexts differently, including the function of the hot type that evoked in areas that are influenced by emotion, motivation, and reward. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on hot executive function.

The study was a single-blind experimental study performed on 30 healthy adults. In this study, subjects were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. In the experimental group, anodal stimulation over the left DLPFC and cathodal stimulation over the right OFC were performed at 2 mA. The tasks used were computer versions of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task and the Iowa Gambling Task for evaluating decision making and risk-taking.

A significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups in the Bart test. There was difference between the two groups in the Iowa test.

tDCS anodic stimulation can increase the hot executive functions in decision making.