Enhancing Reappraisal of Negative Emotional Memories With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Enhancing Reappraisal of Negative Emotional Memories With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Enhancing Reappraisal of Negative Emotional Memories With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Nadja Doerig, Rosa Bohlender, Marius Moisa, Erich Seifritz, Christian Ruff, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-140343/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 20 Jul, 2021 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Reappraisal of negative memories and experiences is central for mental health and well-being. Deficiency of reappraisal lies at the core of many psychiatric disorders and is a key target for treatment. Here we apply transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance reappraisal of negative emotional memories. In a randomized, sham-controlled, 2x2 between-subject and double-blinded study, we applied single sessions of anodal and sham tDCS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of 101 healthy participants while reappraising a personal negative memory or engaging in a control task. We hypothesized that (i) reappraisal decreases negative valence, arousal and evaluations of the memory and leads to improved decision making, and (ii) tDCS leads to additional changes in these reappraisal outcomes. In line with these hypotheses, participants’ personal memories were rated as less negative and less arousing following reappraisal. Anodal tDCS stimulation during reappraisal was associated with significant additional reductions in negative valence compared to sham stimulation. Our results indicate that tDCS may enhance some of the effects of reappraisal. If replicated, our findings suggest potential benefits elicited by tDCS stimulation that may help to optimize current treatment approaches for psychiatric disorders. Psychology Cognitive Neuroscience Reappraisal tDCS emotional memory cognitive control Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 20 Jul, 2021 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Major revision 03 Mar, 2021 Reviews received at journal 02 Mar, 2021 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Feb, 2021 Reviews received at journal 20 Feb, 2021 Reviewers agreed at journal 11 Feb, 2021 Reviewers invited by journal 10 Feb, 2021 Editor assigned by journal 01 Feb, 2021 Editor invited by journal 21 Jan, 2021 Submission checks completed at journal 20 Jan, 2021 First submitted to journal 04 Jan, 2021 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-140343","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":8665792,"identity":"9163e6ec-c769-4fcc-9e0b-d443c97a0e02","order_by":0,"name":"Nadja Doerig","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Zurich","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nadja","middleName":"","lastName":"Doerig","suffix":""},{"id":8665793,"identity":"bfb34501-06e1-46dd-a490-5cf99c585744","order_by":1,"name":"Rosa Bohlender","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Giessen","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rosa","middleName":"","lastName":"Bohlender","suffix":""},{"id":8665794,"identity":"c6ce8243-845a-4db2-b14f-a86a9632ba5b","order_by":2,"name":"Marius Moisa","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Zurich","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Marius","middleName":"","lastName":"Moisa","suffix":""},{"id":8665795,"identity":"b67ff2d1-b2c6-451e-9c7c-dc86f389487e","order_by":3,"name":"Erich Seifritz","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Zurich","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Erich","middleName":"","lastName":"Seifritz","suffix":""},{"id":8665796,"identity":"03ed6bd9-4358-484b-834b-7c6913bf65b9","order_by":4,"name":"Christian Ruff","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Zurich","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Christian","middleName":"","lastName":"Ruff","suffix":""},{"id":8665797,"identity":"7a04d4a1-d11f-47d5-a59c-585921d87653","order_by":5,"name":"Birgit Kleim","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA10lEQVRIie3OsQrCMBCA4SuByxJ1zeYrRAS1UN8lWZy0i+AoQvEmwdX38AUUQRd1VrpYBHHUraOxk1PNKJh/uCSQDw7A5/vBFLND27MKwQQexV24EA0KLQkWTqSYBQFgwoW0eeV6z3JoIk+myy6NY+CHVSkJE97q2MVaKNaUDgiHIGJdvtgGUVkSoTRvIsxECuVI6hmlIUknwi7FYjKgNCD1nYQJIuiebKIwdJ4dtSHRLyft2pY98yhqzPnudspHYzPn+3JiQwkgP57f/tvYw+GTz+fz/XMvGcA8Ro0Oq64AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland","correspondingAuthor":true,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Birgit","middleName":"","lastName":"Kleim","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2021-01-04 11:44:14","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-140343/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-140343/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93647-1","type":"published","date":"2021-07-20T15:01:51+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":5189926,"identity":"a573b993-cb1a-48cc-b7c4-07c6c0fd5984","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-01-22 15:52:06","extension":"jpg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":37760,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Timeline of the experiment. At baseline, participants’ negative emotional memory was screened and participants rated valence, arousal of the memory and evaluations (memory screen). During the experimental session, participants completed a mood state questionnaire and again rated valence and arousal (memory recall/activation). Anodal or sham tDCS was applied over participants’ right dlPFC. The tDCS stimulation began 3 minutes prior to the beginning of the testing, to allow neuroplastic effects to stabilize. In these three minutes, participants engaged in a standardized breathing protocol (see above). To minimize the cutaneous sensation of current onset and offset, tDCS was ramped up in the beginning to maximum intensity over a period of 5 seconds and ramped down over 5 seconds in the end. Stimulation was applied for 20 consecutive minutes throughout the experiment, starting from the beginning of the experimental session and continued throughout the experiment. Participants then rated valence and arousal of the memory. They then listened to the reappraisal or the control audio tape for memory modulation and completed valence and arousal ratings (memory modulation). Decision making and mood were assessed. During follow-up, positive and negative evaluations were assessed.","description":"","filename":"Fig1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-140343/v1/e00ee7720e246c001f592d63.jpg"},{"id":5190121,"identity":"48c9ae95-0172-4555-a78e-e01dc224d082","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-01-22 15:58:06","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":38245,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Results from repeated-measure ANCOVA for memory-related arousal and valence ratings during the experimental session. Depicted are differences in negative valence (A) and arousal (B) pre- and post- reappraisal for the four groups (tDCS-reappraisal, tDCS-control, sham-reappraisal, sham-control). Differences between groups in arousal were nonsignificant. Error bars represent standard errors (95% CI), * p\u003c .05, ** p\u003c .01, *** p\u003c .001.","description":"","filename":"Fig2.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-140343/v1/4ec5397b4beef597e54ef949.jpg"},{"id":5190020,"identity":"9e81bb24-0e63-48c7-a37a-ba4605cd78d1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-01-22 15:55:06","extension":"jpg","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":32659,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Results from repeated-measure ANCOVA for negative and positive appraisals. Depicted are differences in negative appraisals (A) and positive appraisals (B) at baseline versus follow-up sessions for the two stimulation groups, tDCS versus sham stimulation. Error bars represent standard errors (95% CI). Covariates sex and age. Error bars represent standard errors (95% CI), * p\u003c .05, ** p\u003c .01, *** p\u003c .001.","description":"","filename":"Fig3.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-140343/v1/3f26f95bdc092a1cc178533c.jpg"},{"id":13650486,"identity":"1451cceb-1ae1-44f5-9111-d60e1caecf11","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-09-17 09:41:36","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":788229,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"DrigBohlendertdcsScR20012021.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-140343/v1_covered.pdf"},{"id":13577815,"identity":"dc978821-a1e9-479a-b7ec-3ed8a0995093","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-09-17 04:13:03","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":788231,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"DrigBohlendertdcsScR20012021.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-140343/v1_covered.pdf"},{"id":5190196,"identity":"661560d0-ed29-4086-8f6a-98cc807d7750","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-01-22 16:01:10","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1472876,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"DrigBohlendertdcsScR20012021.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-140343/v1_stamped.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eEnhancing Reappraisal of Negative Emotional Memories With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Full Text","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis preprint is available for \u003ca href='/article/rs-140343/latest.pdf' target='_blank'\u003edownload as a PDF\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Reappraisal, tDCS, emotional memory, cognitive control","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-140343/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-140343/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eReappraisal of negative memories and experiences is central for mental health and well-being. Deficiency of reappraisal lies at the core of many psychiatric disorders and is a key target for treatment. Here we apply transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance reappraisal of negative emotional memories. In a randomized, sham-controlled, 2x2 between-subject and double-blinded study, we applied single sessions of anodal and sham tDCS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of 101 healthy participants while reappraising a personal negative memory or engaging in a control task. We hypothesized that (i) reappraisal decreases negative valence, arousal and evaluations of the memory and leads to improved decision making, and (ii) tDCS leads to additional changes in these reappraisal outcomes. In line with these hypotheses, participants\u0026rsquo; personal memories were rated as less negative and less arousing following reappraisal. Anodal tDCS stimulation during reappraisal was associated with significant additional reductions in negative valence compared to sham stimulation. Our results indicate that tDCS may enhance some of the effects of reappraisal. If replicated, our findings suggest potential benefits elicited by tDCS stimulation that may help to optimize current treatment approaches for psychiatric disorders.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Enhancing Reappraisal of Negative Emotional Memories With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2021-01-22 15:52:05","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-140343/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Major revision","date":"2021-03-03T05:30:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2021-03-02T10:48:59+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"79e6c2c4-7611-4f56-a248-0748fa6950f4","date":"2021-02-22T09:58:11+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2021-02-20T19:37:06+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"55fef08e-4761-42f5-a281-fe56609d9f4f","date":"2021-02-11T17:56:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2021-02-11T04:01:03+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2021-02-01T22:40:46+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2021-01-21T18:53:07+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2021-01-20T18:08:34+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2021-01-04T11:37:46+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"67dab595-ab4e-46c0-b14c-fe3f556f0ed5","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 22nd, 2021","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[{"id":2033670,"name":"Psychology"},{"id":2033671,"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2021-08-22T15:11:27+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-140343","link":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93647-1","journal":{"identity":"scientific-reports","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Scientific Reports"},"publishedOn":"2021-07-20 15:01:51","publishedOnDateReadable":"July 20th, 2021"},"versionCreatedAt":"2021-01-22 15:52:05","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1038/s41598-021-93647-1","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93647-1","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-140343","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-140343","identity":"rs-140343","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"7rjqhiLT3MXkJMwkYKINL","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}