Modulating OFC Activity With tDCS Alters Regret About Human Decision-Making

Ping Yu; Ping Yu; Xinbo Lu; Xinbo Lu; Yuyou Chen; Yuyou Chen; Hang Ye; Hang Ye; Lulu Zeng; Lulu Zeng; Wenmin Guo; Wenmin Guo

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.706962

Frontiers in Psychology (Sep 2021)

Modulating OFC Activity With tDCS Alters Regret About Human Decision-Making

Ping Yu,
Ping Yu,
Xinbo Lu,
Xinbo Lu,
Yuyou Chen,
Yuyou Chen,
Hang Ye,
Hang Ye,
Lulu Zeng,
Lulu Zeng,
Wenmin Guo,
Wenmin Guo

Affiliations

Ping Yu: Center for Economic Behavior and Decision-Making (CEBD), Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
Ping Yu: School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
Xinbo Lu: School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
Xinbo Lu: School of Economics, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
Yuyou Chen: Center for Economic Behavior and Decision-Making (CEBD), Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
Yuyou Chen: School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
Hang Ye: Center for Economic Behavior and Decision-Making (CEBD), Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
Hang Ye: School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
Lulu Zeng: Center for Economic Behavior and Decision-Making (CEBD), Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
Lulu Zeng: School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
Wenmin Guo: Center for Economic Behavior and Decision-Making (CEBD), Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China
Wenmin Guo: School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.706962
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

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Regret is a common emotion in daily life. Humans always regret their decision-making choices if the chosen outcome is bad. Neuroscientific studies suggest that the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) influences feelings of regret. We used a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) device to study the role of regret in participants’ decision-making by modulating the activity of the OFC. The two-wheel-of-fortune gamble task was used in our experimental design, and we asked the participants to rate their feelings of regret after the computer presented the obtained and unobtained outcomes. The experimental results revealed that the effect of stimulation type was significant, which indicated that the influence of the OFC in regret was modulated by tDCS. Furthermore, based on post hoc analyses (Bonferroni), regret was lower in those who received left anodal/right cathodal stimulation than in those who received sham stimulation, which revealed that modulating the activity of the OFC reduced the emotional intensity of regret. In addition, an inverted U-shaped curve characterized the mean ratings of regret over time.

Published in Frontiers in Psychology

ISSN: 1664-1078 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology

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