Hemispheric dorsolateral prefrontal cortex lateralization in the regulation of empathy for pain

Gabriel G. Rêgo; Olívia M. Lapenta; Lucas M. Marques; Thiago L. Costa; Jorge Leite; Sandra Carvalho; Óscar F. Gonçalves; André R. Brunoni; Felipe Fregni; Paulo S. Boggio

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2015.03.042

Hemispheric dorsolateral prefrontal cortex lateralization in the regulation of empathy for pain

Gabriel G. Rêgo, Olívia M. Lapenta, Lucas M. Marques, Thiago L. Costa, Jorge Leite, Sandra Carvalho, Óscar F. Gonçalves, André R. Brunoni, Felipe Fregni, Paulo S. Boggio

Western Sydney University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

61 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is involved in the cognitive appraisal and modulation of the pain experience. In this sham-controlled study, with healthy volunteers, we used bi-hemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the DLPFC to assess emotional reactions elicited by pain observation. Left-cathodal/right-anodal tDCS decreased valence and arousal evaluations compared to other tDCS conditions. Compared to sham condition, both left-cathodal/right-anodal and left-anodal/right-cathodal tDCS decreased hostility, sadness and self-pain perception. These decreased sensations after both active tDCS suggest a common role for left and right DLPFC in personal distress modulation. However, the differences in arousal and valence evaluations point to distinct roles of lateralized DLPFC in cognitive empathy, probably through distinct emotion regulation mechanisms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	12-16
Number of pages	5
Journal	Neuroscience Letters
Volume	594
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2015.03.042
Publication status	Published - 2015

Keywords

cerebral dominance
pain
prefrontal cortex

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10.1016/j.neulet.2015.03.042

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title = "Hemispheric dorsolateral prefrontal cortex lateralization in the regulation of empathy for pain",

abstract = "The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is involved in the cognitive appraisal and modulation of the pain experience. In this sham-controlled study, with healthy volunteers, we used bi-hemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the DLPFC to assess emotional reactions elicited by pain observation. Left-cathodal/right-anodal tDCS decreased valence and arousal evaluations compared to other tDCS conditions. Compared to sham condition, both left-cathodal/right-anodal and left-anodal/right-cathodal tDCS decreased hostility, sadness and self-pain perception. These decreased sensations after both active tDCS suggest a common role for left and right DLPFC in personal distress modulation. However, the differences in arousal and valence evaluations point to distinct roles of lateralized DLPFC in cognitive empathy, probably through distinct emotion regulation mechanisms.",

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year = "2015",

doi = "10.1016/j.neulet.2015.03.042",

language = "English",

volume = "594",

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journal = "Neuroscience Letters",

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T1 - Hemispheric dorsolateral prefrontal cortex lateralization in the regulation of empathy for pain

AU - Rêgo, Gabriel G.

AU - Lapenta, Olívia M.

AU - Marques, Lucas M.

AU - Costa, Thiago L.

AU - Leite, Jorge

AU - Carvalho, Sandra

AU - Gonçalves, Óscar F.

AU - Brunoni, André R.

AU - Fregni, Felipe

AU - Boggio, Paulo S.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is involved in the cognitive appraisal and modulation of the pain experience. In this sham-controlled study, with healthy volunteers, we used bi-hemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the DLPFC to assess emotional reactions elicited by pain observation. Left-cathodal/right-anodal tDCS decreased valence and arousal evaluations compared to other tDCS conditions. Compared to sham condition, both left-cathodal/right-anodal and left-anodal/right-cathodal tDCS decreased hostility, sadness and self-pain perception. These decreased sensations after both active tDCS suggest a common role for left and right DLPFC in personal distress modulation. However, the differences in arousal and valence evaluations point to distinct roles of lateralized DLPFC in cognitive empathy, probably through distinct emotion regulation mechanisms.

AB - The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is involved in the cognitive appraisal and modulation of the pain experience. In this sham-controlled study, with healthy volunteers, we used bi-hemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the DLPFC to assess emotional reactions elicited by pain observation. Left-cathodal/right-anodal tDCS decreased valence and arousal evaluations compared to other tDCS conditions. Compared to sham condition, both left-cathodal/right-anodal and left-anodal/right-cathodal tDCS decreased hostility, sadness and self-pain perception. These decreased sensations after both active tDCS suggest a common role for left and right DLPFC in personal distress modulation. However, the differences in arousal and valence evaluations point to distinct roles of lateralized DLPFC in cognitive empathy, probably through distinct emotion regulation mechanisms.

KW - cerebral dominance

KW - pain

KW - prefrontal cortex

UR - http://handle.westernsydney.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:46130

U2 - 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.03.042

DO - 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.03.042

M3 - Article

SN - 0304-3940

VL - 594

SP - 12

EP - 16

JO - Neuroscience Letters

JF - Neuroscience Letters

ER -

Hemispheric dorsolateral prefrontal cortex lateralization in the regulation of empathy for pain

Abstract

Keywords

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