University of Twente Student Theses
The Effects of Anodal tDCS of the vMPFC on Physiological Responses During a Fear Extinction Paradigm
Husmann, Marius (2024) The Effects of Anodal tDCS of the vMPFC on Physiological Responses During a Fear Extinction Paradigm.
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| Abstract: | This study aimed to explore the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) on fear extinction learning, with conditioned physiological responses as key outcome measures. Participants underwent fear acquisition, extinction, and extinction recall phases, separated by 24-hour intervals, with tDCS applied for the first ten minutes of the extinction phase. Physiological responses were recorded using skin conductance (SCR), respiration, pupillometry, and electrocardiography (ECG). Results showed that SCRs during fear acquisition indicated significant stimulus differentiation, with stronger responses to the conditioned stimulus that was paired with the US (CS+) than the conditioned stimulus that was never coupled with the US (CS-), demonstrating successful fear learning. An interesting conditioned response emerged in the respiratory rate SD, with participants showing more stable breathing patterns during CS+ trials. In the extinction phase, SCRs for both CS+ and CS- decreased significantly across trials, suggesting extinction learning. Notably, participants who received tDCS showed significantly reduced SCRs to both CS+ and CS-, indicating enhanced extinction learning, though CS differentiation persisted. During recall, SCR differentiation had dissipated in both groups, while respiratory rate SD remained stable in the tDCS group, unlike the control group, which showed increased variability. This study’s findings align partially with previous research, suggesting that tDCS may enhance extinction learning through reduced fear responses. The results highlight tDCS's potential as a tool to improve extinction-based therapies, though future research with larger samples and controlled environmental conditions is warranted to clarify its mechanisms and effects. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/104818 |
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