Effects of prefrontal HD-tDCS on impulsivity and aggression: a combined HDtDCS-fMRI study

Effects of prefrontal HD-tDCS on impulsivity and aggression: a combined HDtDCS-fMRI study - COPS: Criminal Offenders Prefrontal Stimulation

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00028607

Enrollment

100

Registered

2022-12-13

Start date

2023-08-29

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-04-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Criminal violent offenders

Interventions

Group 1: Active anodale tdcs over the right IFG (inferior frontal gyrus) Group 2: Sham stimulation over right IFG

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Male

Age

18 Years to 45 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Sufficient German language skills Age: between 18 and 45 years Offender: Conviction for at least one violent crime Controls: No convictions for violent crimes.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: MRI Contraindications Acute or chronic neurological disorders Acute use of antipsychotics Controls: Current or chronic psychiatric disorders.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The first aim of the current study is to use anodal prefrontal HD-tDCS to reduce impulsive and aggressive behaviour in male violent offenders. The Stop Signal Task (SST) will be used to measure response inhibition. During the SST, we expect that offenders show poorer response inhibition compared to controls. Further, criminal offenders are assumed to benefit more from HD-tDCS, indicated by a greater increase in response inhibition compared to healthy controls. The Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP) will be used to measure aggression induced by social provocation. In the TAP we expect that offenders show higher levels of aggression compared to the control group. Furthermore, active stimulation is expected to cause a greater reduction of aggression levels in offenders compared to controls.	—

Measure

Time frame

The first aim of the current study is to use anodal prefrontal HD-tDCS to reduce impulsive and aggressive behaviour in male violent offenders. The Stop Signal Task (SST) will be used to measure response inhibition. During the SST, we expect that offenders show poorer response inhibition compared to controls. Further, criminal offenders are assumed to benefit more from HD-tDCS, indicated by a greater increase in response inhibition compared to healthy controls. The Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP) will be used to measure aggression induced by social provocation. In the TAP we expect that offenders show higher levels of aggression compared to the control group. Furthermore, active stimulation is expected to cause a greater reduction of aggression levels in offenders compared to controls.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
The second aim of this study is to measure the neural correlates of impulsivity and aggression using fMRI and compare functional differences between offender and controls. In addition, we are investigating how HD-tDCS affects these neural correlates. Specifically, we aim to investigate whether anodal HD-tDCS can increase right IFG activity and strengthen regulatory networks under provocation in violent offenders.	—

Measure

Time frame

The second aim of this study is to measure the neural correlates of impulsivity and aggression using fMRI and compare functional differences between offender and controls. In addition, we are investigating how HD-tDCS affects these neural correlates. Specifically, we aim to investigate whether anodal HD-tDCS can increase right IFG activity and strengthen regulatory networks under provocation in violent offenders.

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Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactLuca Lasogga

RWTH Universitätsklinikum Aachen

llasogga@ukaachen.de+49 241 80 37878

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026