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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02427672

The Effect of Prefrontal Cortex Stimulation on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior

This study investigates the effect of upregulating prefrontal cortex activity on antisocial and aggressive behavior and risk factors for such behavior. In the double-blind, randomized controlled trial, participants will undergo anodal transcranial direct current stimulation bilaterally to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or a sham stimulation. During and after stimulation, they will complete survey and laboratory measures assessing antisocial and aggressive behavior and risk factors for antisocial and aggressive behavior. Heart rate and skin conductance will also be measured.

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Key information

Conditions

Antisocial Behavior Aberrant Motor Behavior in Dementia Aggression Antisocial Personality Disorder Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Mental Disorders Personality Disorders Social Behavior

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Above 18 years of age
  • Able to understand the nature of the study and give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • History of or active neurologic, cardiovascular, or psychiatric disease
  • Currently consuming anti-convulsant, anti-psychotic, or sedative/hypnotic medications
  • Currently consuming anti-depressants
  • History of seizures
  • Metallic implants on the scalp
  • Participation in other transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or tDCS experiments on the same day
  • History of adverse reactions to tDCS

Treatment and study plan

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Device

Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Device

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Antisocial Behavior Inclinations at 24 Hours

    Time frame: Baseline (an average of 15 minutes before receiving tDCS or sham) and on average, 24 hours following stimulation or sham

    This will be assessed using hypothetical scenarios in which someone commits a criminal or antisocial act. The two brief scenarios describe a physical assault and a sexual assault. Participants will respond to the likelihood that they would commit the act in the scenario according to a 10-point Likert scale. Responses were measured on a scale ranging from zero (no chance at all) to ten (100 percent chance). Scores for both scenarios were summed to obtain an overall measure of intentions to commit aggression. Possible scores range from 0 to 20. A higher value indicates a greater inclination to engage in the antisocial act.

  2. Number of Pins Inserted Into a Virtual Voodoo Doll at 24 Hours

    Time frame: On average, 24 hours after the tDCS or sham session

    The number of pins (between 0 and 51) that participants decide to insert into a picture of a voodoo doll on a computer that represents either a romantic partner or close friend will be recorded on average 24 hours after receiving tDCS or sham stimulation.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Prefrontal Cortex on Antisocial and Aggressive Behavior

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2018
First posted
Apr 28, 2015
Registry last updated
Aug 28, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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