Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 M.Sc., Cognitive Neuroscience division, Faculty of Education & Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
2 Associate Prof., Cognitive Neuroscience division, Faculty of Education & Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
3 Prof., Psychology division, Faculty of Education & Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: The present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation on social-informational conformity, considering the moderating role of gender. Method: Two groups (male and female), each group consisting of 24 people aged 18-30, were selected from Tabriz University students' society with a non-random and available sampling method. The current research design was a semi-experimental type with a pre-test and a post-test. In the pre-test stage, the social-informational conformity computerized task was implemented. Then, two sessions (each, 20 minutes) of transcranial direct current stimulation were applied. In the post-test phase, the same social-informational conformity task was performed. Finally, the findings were analyzed with repeated measures variance analysis and covariance analysis in SPSS version 24 software. Findings: The amount of social-informational conformity increased in both groups after applying transcranial direct current stimulation, and gender did not moderate the effect of this stimulation. Conclusion: Transcranial direct current stimulation has the same effect on conformity in both men and women. Also, cathodal stimulation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex significantly increases the tendency for social-informational conformity in women and men when the participants' initial decision is different from the majority. Since cathodal stimulation reduces neuronal firing, cortical excitability, and motor-evoked potentials, it is reasoned that the reduction of vmPFC stimulation enhances the conformity behavior in people.
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