Psychological Well-Being
Conditions
Interventions
This is a two-arm, single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. A total of 40 people met the eligibility criteria and were probabilistically allocated to the active group (tDCS) or sham group
cathode)
the electrodes measured 20 cm² and 15cm², the sponges were moistened with saline solution, and the current intensity was 2mA. Active group: 20 people (10 women and 10 men) received 2mA stimulation for
E02.331.750
Sponsors
Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino
FAPERJ - Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Eligibility
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Healthy volunteers; both genders; nonsmokers; age between 18 and 50 years; undergraduate students or holders of a college degree
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Personal history of epilepsy; cardiac pacemaker; previous intracranial surgery; pregnancy; regular psychotropics intake; inability to give informed consent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Expected outcome 1: We seek to verify that transcranial Direct Current Stimulation affects feelings of happiness and guilt in the context of costly altruistic decisions. Stimulation is expected to increase perceived happiness while decreasing perceived guilt after a non-government organization giving a game. It is expected that after tDCS stimulation the measurement of two metabolites, GABA and Glx, change in two areas of the brain: Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (vmPFC) and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC). We expect an increase in GABA after 2mA transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex and a decrease in Glx on Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex.;Result found 1: We have found transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex, and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex influenced self-reported happiness following a donation task. There was an increase in happiness in the active group, compared to the sham group, and a decrease in guilt in both groups across sessions. Also, we report increased levels of GABA in the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex and decreased levels of Glx in the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex of the active group. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary outcomes are not expected. | — |
Countries
Brazil
Contacts
Public ContactJorge Moll
Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino
Outcome results
None listed