A simultaneous modulation of reactive and proactive inhibition processes by anodal tDCS on the right inferior frontal cortex

Proactive and reactive inhibitory processes are a fundamental part of executive functions, allowing a person to stop inappropriate responses when necessary and to adjust performance in in a long term in accordance to the goals of a task. In the current study, we manipulate, in a single task, both re...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Cunillera, Toni, Fuentemilla Garriga, Lluís, Brignani, Debora, Cucurell, David, Miniussi, Carlo
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2014
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/65632
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/65632
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Estimulació del cervell
Escorça cerebral
Inhibició
Brain stimulation
Cerebral cortex
Inhibition
Description
Summary:Proactive and reactive inhibitory processes are a fundamental part of executive functions, allowing a person to stop inappropriate responses when necessary and to adjust performance in in a long term in accordance to the goals of a task. In the current study, we manipulate, in a single task, both reactive and proactive inhibition mechanisms, and we investigate the within-subjects effect of increasing, by means of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), the involvement of the right inferior frontal cortex (rIFC). Our results show a simultaneous enhancement of these two cognitive mechanisms when modulating the neural activity of rIFC. Thus, the application of anodal tDCS increased reaction times on Go trials, indicating a possible increase in proactive inhibition. Concurrently, the stop-signal reaction time, as a covert index of the inhibitory process, was reduced, demonstrating an improvement in reactive inhibition. In summary, the current pattern of results validates the engagement of the rIFC in these two forms of inhibitory processes, proactive and reactive inhibition and it provides evidence that both processes can operate concurrently in the brain.