Influences of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and cognitive reappraisal on emotions and aggression following social exclusion

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Described as 'significant' but specific values not provided

• Effect Size: Not reported in abstract

• Primary Outcome: Aggressive behaviour measured by Competitive Reaction Time Task and Job-relevant Evaluations Task

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: Cannot be calculated from available data

• Confidence Interval: Not reported

Clinical Application

HD-tDCS requires specialised equipment and training; cognitive reappraisal more readily implementable HD-tDCS not currently PBS-listed; would require TGA approval for therapeutic use. Cognitive interventions align with existing psychological therapy frameworks Limited to young adults in research settings; clinical applicability unclear

Abstract

Social exclusion can trigger negative emotions and aggressive behavior, while emotion regulation strategies and neuromodulation techniques may mitigate these effects. This study employed a 2 × 2 factorial design to investigate the impacts of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and cognitive reappraisal on emotions and aggression following social exclusion. Thirty-two university students were randomly assigned to four groups: active HD-tDCS + cognitive reappraisal, sham HD-tDCS + cognitive reappraisal, active HD-tDCS + no reappraisal, and sham HD-tDCS + no reappraisal. Results showed that active HD-tDCS significantly reduced aggressive behavior in both the Competitive Reaction Time Task and Job-relevant Evaluations Task, likely by enhancing prefrontal regulatory control. Cognitive reappraisal significantly decreased negative emotions but did not directly reduce aggressive behavior, suggesting a dissociation between emotional and behavioral regulation pathways. No significant interaction was found between HD-tDCS and cognitive reappraisal, possibly due to their independent neural mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of HD-tDCS and cognitive reappraisal as interventions for social exclusion-induced aggression and emotional dysregulation.

References

1. 1.Ding, Y., He, C., Li, H., & Zhang, J. (2026). Influences of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and cognitive reappraisal on emotions and aggression following social exclusion. Behavioural Brain Research, 116083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116083