When anger leads to aggression: Induction of relative left frontal cortical activity with transcranial direct current stimulation increases the anger-aggression relationship

Hortensius, R. , Schutter, D.J.L.G. and Harmon-Jones, E. (2012) When anger leads to aggression: Induction of relative left frontal cortical activity with transcranial direct current stimulation increases the anger-aggression relationship. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 7(3), pp. 342-347. (doi: 10.1093/scan/nsr012) (PMID:21421731) (PMCID:PMC3304483)

Abstract

The relationship between anger and aggression is imperfect. Based on work on the neuroscience of anger, we predicted that anger associated with greater relative left frontal cortical activation would be more likely to result in aggression. To test this hypothesis, we combined transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the frontal cortex with interpersonal provocation. Participants received insulting feedback after 15 min of tDCS and were able to aggress by administering noise blasts to the insulting participant. Individuals who received tDCS to increase relative left frontal cortical activity behaved more aggressively when they were angry. No relation between anger and aggression was observed in the increase relative right frontal cortical activity or sham condition. These results concur with the motivational direction model of frontal asymmetry, in which left frontal activity is associated with anger. We propose that anger with approach motivational tendencies is more likely to result in aggression.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by an Innovational Research (Grant 452-07-012 to D.J.L.G.S.) from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and partially supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (BCS 0643348 and BCS 0921565 to E.H.-J.).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hortensius, Dr Ruud
• Authors: Hortensius, R., Schutter, D.J.L.G., and Harmon-Jones, E.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
• ISSN: 1749-5016
• ISSN (Online): 1749-5024
• Published Online: 18 March 2011
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2011 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 7(3):342-347
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License