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Zorns S, Sierzputowski C, Ash S, Skowron M, Minervini A, LaVarco A, Pardillo M, Keenan JP. Attraction is altered via modulation of the medial prefrontal cortex without explicit knowledge. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1333733. [PMID: 39206424 PMCID: PMC11349520 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1333733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that brain stimulation can alter an individual's physical appearance via dysregulation of the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). In this study, we attempted to determine if individuals who receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) delivered to the MPFC were rated as more attractive by others. It has been previously reported that 1 hertz (Hz) (inhibitory) TMS can alter one's facial expressions such that frontal cortex inhibition can increase expressiveness. These alterations, detected by external observation, remain below the level of awareness of the subject itself. In Phase I, subjects (N = 10) received MPFC rTMS and had their photographs taken after each of the five stimulation conditions, in addition to making self-ratings across a number of variables, including attractiveness. In Phase II, participants (N = 430) rated five pictures of each of the Phase 1 individuals on attractiveness. It was found that there were no significant differences in self-assessment following rTMS (Phase I). However, attractiveness ratings differed significantly in Phase II. There was a significant difference found between 10 Hz TMS delivered to the MPFC (p < 0.001), such that individuals were rated as less attractive. Furthermore, 1 Hz TMS to the MPFC increased the number of 'Most Attractive' ratings, while 10Hz TMS decreased the number of 'Most Attractive' ratings (p < 0.001). These results suggest that the MPFC plays a role in attractiveness ratings to others. These data also support research showing that one's appearance can be altered below the level of awareness via rTMS. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation to examine how brain stimulation influences one's attractiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Zorns
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | - Claudia Sierzputowski
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | - Sydney Ash
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | - Molly Skowron
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | - Anthony Minervini
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | - Adriana LaVarco
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | - Matthew Pardillo
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | - Julian Paul Keenan
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States
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Minervini A, LaVarco A, Zorns S, Propper R, Suriano C, Keenan JP. Excitatory Dorsal Lateral Prefrontal Cortex Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Increases Social Anxiety. Brain Sci 2023; 13:989. [PMID: 37508921 PMCID: PMC10377502 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13070989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Social exclusion refers to the experience of rejection by one or more people during a social event and can induce pain-related sensations. Cyberball, a computer program, is one of the most common tools for analyzing social exclusion. Regions of the brain that underlie social pain include networks linked to the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Specifically, self-directed negative socially induced exclusion is associated with changes in DLPFC activity. Direct manipulation of this area may provide a better understanding of how the DLPFC can influence the perception of social exclusion and determine a causal role of the DLPFC. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to both the left and right DLPFC to gauge different reactions to the Cyberball experience. It was found that there were elevated exclusion indices following right DLPFC rTMS; participants consistently felt more excluded when the right DLPFC was excited. This may relate to greater feelings of social pain when the right DLPFC is manipulated. These data demonstrate that direct manipulation of the DLPFC results in changes in responses to social exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Minervini
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Adriana LaVarco
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Samantha Zorns
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Ruth Propper
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Christos Suriano
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Julian Paul Keenan
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
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Yasin S, Fierst A, Keenan H, Knapp A, Gallione K, Westlund T, Kirschner S, Vaidya S, Qiu C, Rougebec A, Morss E, Lebiedzinski J, Dejean M, Keenan JP. Self-Enhancement and the Medial Prefrontal Cortex: The Convergence of Clinical and Experimental Findings. Brain Sci 2022; 12:1103. [PMID: 36009167 PMCID: PMC9405933 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12081103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-enhancement (SE) is often overlooked as a fundamental cognitive ability mediated via the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC). Here, we present research that establishes the relationship between the PFC, SE, and the potential evolved beneficial mechanisms. Specifically, we believe there is now enough evidence to speculate that SE exists to provide significant benefits and should be considered a normal aspect of the self. Whatever the metabolic or social cost, the upside of SE is great enough that it is a core and fundamental psychological construct. Furthermore, though entirely theoretical, we suggest that a critical reason the PFC has evolved so significantly in Homo sapiens is to, in part, sustain SE. We, therefore, elaborate on its proximate and ultimate mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Yasin
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Anjel Fierst
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Harper Keenan
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Amelia Knapp
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Katrina Gallione
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Tessa Westlund
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Sydney Kirschner
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Sahana Vaidya
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Christina Qiu
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Audrey Rougebec
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Elodie Morss
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Jack Lebiedzinski
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Maya Dejean
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Julian Paul Keenan
- Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Biology, Montclair State University, 320 Science Hall, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
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LaVarco A, Ahmad N, Archer Q, Pardillo M, Nunez Castaneda R, Minervini A, Keenan JP. Self-Conscious Emotions and the Right Fronto-Temporal and Right Temporal Parietal Junction. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12020138. [PMID: 35203902 PMCID: PMC8869976 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
For more than two decades, research focusing on both clinical and non-clinical populations has suggested a key role for specific regions in the regulation of self-conscious emotions. It is speculated that both the expression and the interpretation of self-conscious emotions are critical in humans for action planning and response, communication, learning, parenting, and most social encounters. Empathy, Guilt, Jealousy, Shame, and Pride are all categorized as self-conscious emotions, all of which are crucial components to one’s sense of self. There has been an abundance of evidence pointing to the right Fronto-Temporal involvement in the integration of cognitive processes underlying the expression of these emotions. Numerous regions within the right hemisphere have been identified including the right temporal parietal junction (rTPJ), the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and the inferior parietal lobule (IPL). In this review, we aim to investigate patient cases, in addition to clinical and non-clinical studies. We also aim to highlight these specific brain regions pivotal to the right hemispheric dominance observed in the neural correlates of such self-conscious emotions and provide the potential role that self-conscious emotions play in evolution.
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