Frontopolar multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation reduces conditioned fear reactivity during extinction training: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2023 Sep 10:107825. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107825. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTExposure-based therapies for anxiety and related disorders are believed to depend on fear extinction learning and corresponding changes in extinction circuitry. Frontopolar multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to improve therapeutic safety learning during in vivo exposure and may modulate functional connectivity of networks implicated in fear processing and inhibition. A pilot randomized controlled trial was completed to determine the effects of frontopolar tDCS on extinction learning and memory. Community volunteers (n=35) completed a 3-day fear extinction paradigm with measurement of electrodermal activity. Participants were randomized (single-blind) to 20-min of sham (n=17, 30s. ramp in/out) or active (n=18) frontopolar (anode over Fpz, 10-10 EEG) multifocal tDCS (20-min, 1.5mA) prior to extinction training. Mixed ANOVAs revealed a significant group*trial effect on skin conductance response (SCR) to the conditioned stimulus (CS+) during extinction training (p=.007, Cohen's d=.55). The effects of frontopolar tDCS were greatest during the first two extinction trials, suggesting that tDCS may have promoted fear inhibition prior to safety learning. Return of fear to the CS+ during tests were comparable across conditions (ps>.50). These findings suggest that frontopolar tDCS may modulate the processing of threat cues and associated circui...
Source: Neurobiology of Learning and Memory - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research