Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Offenders

The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Risk-taking and Aggression in Offenders

This study investigates the effect of upregulating prefrontal cortex activity on risk-taking, and antisocial and aggressive behavior in violent offenders. In the double-blind, randomized controlled trial, using a within-subject crossover design, each participant will undergo anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and sham stimulation. After each stimulation session, neural activity and behavioral responses to tasks assessing risk-taking and aggressive behavior will be recorded. The effect of tDCS on violent offenders will also be assessed in comparison to age and gender-matched healthy controls.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between 18 and 50 years of age
• Able to understand the nature of the study and give informed consent
• Individuals in the violent offender group must have a record of repeated violent criminal offending (at least 2 felonies).
• Individuals in the violent offender group must have been convicted solely due to crimes involving violence motivated by impulsive aggression.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of any contraindications for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
• History of significant medical illness
• History of any neurological condition
• Diagnosis of schizophrenia
• History of epilepsy
• Head injury
• Mental retardation