Premium
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex decreases valuations during food choices
Author(s) -
Camus Mickael,
Halelamien Neil,
Plassmann Hilke,
Shimojo Shinsuke,
O’Doherty John,
Camerer Colin,
Rangel Antonio
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06991.x
Subject(s) - transcranial magnetic stimulation , dorsolateral prefrontal cortex , dorsolateral , neuroscience , consumer neuroscience , psychology , stimulation , prefrontal cortex , cognition
Abstract Several studies have found decision‐making‐related value signals in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, it is unknown whether the DLPFC plays a causal role in decision‐making, or whether it implements computations that are correlated with valuations, but that do not participate in the valuation process itself. We addressed this question by using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) while subjects were involved in an economic valuation task involving the consumption of real foods. We found that, as compared with a control condition, application of rTMS to the right DLPFC caused a decrease in the values assigned to the stimuli. The results are consistent with the possibility that the DLPFC plays a causal role in the computation of values at the time of choice.