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

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 26;9(11):e113537. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113537. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Executive Function / physiology*
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Proactive Inhibition*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Reactive Inhibition*
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was supported by: TC: Spanish Government PSI2011-23624; LF: Spanish Government PSI2010-15024; CM and DB: Italian Ministry of Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.