Biological PsychologyPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-20DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109242
Axu Hu , Shu Liu , Jinke Hao , Jianghua Han , Feng Gu
{"title":"Electrophysiological evidence for dual-route processing in visual recognition of Chinese jumbled words","authors":"Axu Hu , Shu Liu , Jinke Hao , Jianghua Han , Feng Gu","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Words with transposed letters—often referred to as jumbled words or transposed-letter nonwords—can still be read fluently. A comparable phenomenon occurs in Chinese, a logographic language in which words are composed of characters—square-shaped symbols that often correspond to morphemes. Consequently, most Chinese words are compound in nature. The present study investigated the neural mechanisms underlying the recognition of Chinese jumbled words—two-character compounds with transposed character positions—using visual event-related potentials (ERPs). Participants performed an implicit reading task (color detection) while viewing Chinese words (or jumbled words) and pseudowords presented under two conditions that manipulated character order within each item: a left-to-right Canonical condition and a right-to-left Jumbled condition. Robust ND250 and left anterior negativity (LAN) effects were observed in both conditions. The ND250, associated with orthographic whole-word processing, was significantly attenuated in the Jumbled condition relative to the Canonical condition, suggesting that jumbled words only partially activated the orthographic representations of their base forms. The LAN, interpreted as an index of morphological decomposition, was also elicited in both conditions and did not significantly differ between Canonical and Jumbled conditions, indicating that decomposition processes operate automatically and are insensitive to character order. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that both whole-word and decomposition processing routes are engaged in the recognition of Chinese jumbled words, offering novel electrophysiological evidence for the flexibility of visual recognition of Chinese compound words.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55372,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychology","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 109242"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147494687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biological PsychologyPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109216
Valentina Meregalli , Giorgia Cona , Giulia Brizzi , Umberto Granziol , Sofia Gentili , Denys Guante Henriquez , David Antonio Grimaldi , Alessio A. Gugliotta , Margherita Salvucci , Angela Favaro , Enrico Collantoni
{"title":"Modulating implicit food-related tendencies via repetitive TMS of the intraparietal sulcus. A proof-of-concept study for a novel therapeutic target in eating disorders","authors":"Valentina Meregalli , Giorgia Cona , Giulia Brizzi , Umberto Granziol , Sofia Gentili , Denys Guante Henriquez , David Antonio Grimaldi , Alessio A. Gugliotta , Margherita Salvucci , Angela Favaro , Enrico Collantoni","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109216","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim</h3><div>Implicit approach–avoidance biases toward food play a key role in eating behaviors and may contribute to the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Yet, the neural mechanisms underlying these automatic responses remain poorly understood. The intraparietal sulcus (IPS) has been implicated in sensorimotor integration and goal-directed action, suggesting a role in regulating food-related behavioural biases.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This proof-of-concept study aimed to investigate the causal role of the IPS in modulating implicit food-related approach–avoidance bias through low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Twenty-two healthy individuals underwent three rTMS sessions in a randomized crossover design: active stimulation over the left and right IPS, and a sham control condition. Each active session consisted of low-frequency stimulation (1 Hz, 1200 pulses, lasting 20 min). After each session, participants completed a mobile version of the Approach–Avoidance Task, which involved pulling or pushing a smartphone in response to high-calorie and low-calorie food stimuli, and neutral objects.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared to the sham condition, rTMS over both the left and right IPS significantly enhanced approach bias toward high-calorie food stimuli. No significant changes were observed for low-calorie or neutral stimuli. These effects were not accompanied by changes in explicit food wanting ratings or in hunger levels.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings provide the first evidence for a causal role of the IPS in modulating implicit food-related behavioural biases. The IPS emerges as a promising neuromodulatory target for interventions aiming to rebalance maladaptive action tendencies in eating disorders and related conditions. Future research should explore the therapeutic potential of IPS-targeted stimulation protocols in clinical populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55372,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychology","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 109216"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146203885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biological PsychologyPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-07DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109234
Josef M. Tatschl , Christian Rominger, Andreas R. Schwerdtfeger
{"title":"Beyond 0.1 Hz: Distinct affective and cardiac responses to slow and super-slow-paced breathing","authors":"Josef M. Tatschl , Christian Rominger, Andreas R. Schwerdtfeger","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109234","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109234","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>0.05 Hz super-slow-paced breathing, beyond the well-known slow-paced 0.1 Hz rate, may induce distinct psychophysiological effects through differentially modulating body-brain pathways. To address this gap, we assessed respiratory heart rate variability (RespHRV), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and affective responses during 0.05 Hz and 0.1 Hz breathing. Fifty-three participants (49% female; Age: <em>M</em> = 24.13 years) performed both breathing rates in randomized, counterbalanced order following a baseline condition, with each phase lasting 5 min. Peak-valley RespHRV increased with decreasing breathing rate, highest at the 0.05 Hz rate, followed by 0.1 Hz, and lowest at baseline. Although yielding a similar direction, no significant differences emerged for frequency-domain RespHRV. In contrast, RMSSD was highest during 0.1 Hz and comparable between 0.05 Hz and baseline. 0.1 Hz breathing yielded broader affect modulation, reducing negative and positive affect–primarily the “Activation” subfacet–while increasing fatigue, whereas the 0.05 Hz pace selectively reduced negative affect. Thus, slow and super-slow-paced breathing induced different psychophysiological effects. Specifically, 0.05 Hz breathing preferentially enhanced RespHRV, emphasizing the peak-valley method as a robust indicator, while 0.1 Hz breathing exerted stronger affect modulation. These findings suggest the importance of considering breathing frequency–slow- versus super-slow-paced–when targeting affect regulation and cardiac entrainment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55372,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychology","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 109234"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147391818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biological PsychologyPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109226
Roger C. McIntosh , Maria Di Bello , Ramanamurthy V. Mylavarapu , Danielle N. Pairot , Etienne A. Atangana , Kaitlyn E. Dillon , Patrick D. Ganzer
{"title":"Failing under pressure: Sustained sympathetic arousal among individuals prone to cognitive failures","authors":"Roger C. McIntosh , Maria Di Bello , Ramanamurthy V. Mylavarapu , Danielle N. Pairot , Etienne A. Atangana , Kaitlyn E. Dillon , Patrick D. Ganzer","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109226","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109226","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The resolution of cognitive interference incurred during the Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT) has been linked to an elevated sympathetic stress response. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) has been implicated in this response; however, it is unclear whether psychophysiological and behavioral responses to the MSIT vary in individuals more susceptible to experiencing daily lapses in cognitive control.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Contrast in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response to cognitive interference (incongruent trials – congruent trials), skin conductance levels (SCL), accuracy, and reaction time on the MSIT were evaluated as a function of self-reported cognitive failure in 118 healthy adults (mean age 30.6 ± 6.8 years, 62.4 % female). BOLD response to cognitive interference was also compared to SCL levels.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Greater BOLD response of the dACC during the MSIT predicted higher SCL during both incongruent and congruent trials. Although accuracy, reaction time, and BOLD response to the MSIT did not vary as a function of cognitive failure, SCL decreased by nearly 1 logarithmic unit pre- to post-task in those reporting lower levels of cognitive failure compared to no change in SCL amongst persons endorsing higher levels.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These findings confirm dACC BOLD response to cognitive interference during the MSIT as an indicator of sympathetic arousal and further suggests that while behavioral task performance is preserved among individuals reporting more frequent cognitive lapses during everyday life, they demonstrate sustained sympathetic arousal and poorer post-task recovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55372,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychology","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 109226"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146229928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biological PsychologyPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-26DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109230
Ethan Knight , Micaela Costa-Mendes , Caitlin Hill , Emily Johnstone , Zachary W. Petzel
{"title":"The impact of alcohol consumption on frontal asymmetry and risk-taking","authors":"Ethan Knight , Micaela Costa-Mendes , Caitlin Hill , Emily Johnstone , Zachary W. Petzel","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reinforcement sensitivity theory outlines three systems which guide our decision-making and risk-taking. The behavioral activation system (BAS) increases sensitivity to rewarding stimuli (i.e., approach motivation), while the flight-fright-freeze system (FFFS) increases sensitivity to threatening stimuli (i.e., avoidance motivation) and revised behavioral inhibition system (r-BIS) mediates competition between BAS and FFFS. Alcohol is established to diminish neural indices associated with FFFS and r-BIS; however, whether intoxication also influences neural correlates of BAS is unclear. The current experiment (<em>N</em> = 71) used electroencephalography (EEG) to assess frontal-cortical asymmetry associated with BAS versus r-BIS during the balloon analogue risk task (BART). Participants consumed alcoholic versus non-alcoholic (placebo) drinks. Intoxicated participants exhibited greater risk-taking compared to placebos. Yet, placebos exhibited greater relative left frontal-cortical asymmetry during the first half of BART trials (i.e., associated with approach motivation) followed by a shift toward relative right frontal-cortical asymmetry in the second half of trials (i.e., associated with inhibition). Relative left frontal-cortical asymmetry observed among placebos predicted poorer BART performance. Intoxicated participants did not exhibit these shifts in frontal asymmetry, likely indicating impaired or delayed engagement of inhibitory control. Despite greater risk-taking, intoxicated participants responded more conservatively during the second set of BART trials. However, unlike placebos, these shifts in performance were unrelated to frontal asymmetry, suggesting alternative mechanisms underlying their behavioral adjustments. Findings provide novel insights into neural correlates of approach motivation following actual versus perceived consumption of alcohol, supporting links between frontal-cortical asymmetry and risk-taking, in addition to suggesting unique pathways which promote impulsiveness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55372,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychology","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 109230"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147322182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biological PsychologyPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-02DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109231
Sara Stottmeier , Giuseppe Di Dona , Alessia Santoni , Klara Hemmerich , Caterina Bertini , Luca Ronconi
{"title":"Tracking electrophysiological dynamics of prior exploitation in visual motion perception","authors":"Sara Stottmeier , Giuseppe Di Dona , Alessia Santoni , Klara Hemmerich , Caterina Bertini , Luca Ronconi","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Motion perception relies on predictive mechanisms to facilitate optimal interaction with moving objects by integrating prior knowledge about motion dynamics and perceptual input. Evidence of these predictive processes can be found in the Representational Momentum (RM) effect, in which the perceived position of a moving object is displaced forward in the direction of motion. This is an ideal framework to assess whether modulations of event-related potentials (ERPs) observed for task-related “contextual” priors extend to deeply ingrained “structural” priors, acquired by experience or connected to intrinsic features of the sensory system. In this study, we examined ERP correlates of predictive processing of structural priors using a RM task where participants had to detect discrepancies in the orientation of a rotating bar’s endpoint, relative to a subsequent firm bar (the probe). Our findings reveal the modulation of the perceptual prior (rotation speed) from earlier stages of visual processing, as reflected in the probe-evoked parieto-occipital P1. Parieto-occipital N2 and centro-frontal P3a exhibited modulations consistent with the use of both perceptual and expectation-based priors, given that they were also modulated by the direction of displacement. Differently, the centro-parietal slow wave (SW) component may reflect later model updating processes. At the individual level, the difference in both P3a and SW amplitudes between detected and undetected discrepancies correlated with the behavioural RM effect. These results describe a timeline of ERP activity underlying predictive processing in motion perception, providing insights into how the brain integrates prior intrinsic “structural” knowledge of the environment to optimize perceptual decisions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55372,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychology","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 109231"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biological PsychologyPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-07DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109238
Elizabeth Kwon , Damilola Adekunle , Annie Ginty , Elisabeth Vichaya , Kenneth Carriveau , Assaf Oshri
{"title":"Determinants and outcomes of pubertal stress recalibration process: A scoping review","authors":"Elizabeth Kwon , Damilola Adekunle , Annie Ginty , Elisabeth Vichaya , Kenneth Carriveau , Assaf Oshri","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109238","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109238","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Early life stress is linked to altered stress system functioning, including hypo- or hyper- autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, which contributes to the development of psychopathology. One potential theoretical framework that can guide intervention development is the pubertal stress recalibration hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that puberty, a period of significant biological change, provides an opportunity for stress systems to resample the environment and adjust or recalibrate based on current conditions, representing a potential window for intervention. Given the mediating role of altered stress physiology in connecting ACEs and health outcomes, modifying or recalibrating stress systems may be a promising intervention target. However, there is limited evidence on how these principles can be applied in practice to inform interventions. To address this gap, the current study conducted a scoping review, identifying three animal studies and thirteen human studies. These studies were examined with attention to definitions of stress recalibration, key predictors and outcomes, and areas needing further research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55372,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychology","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 109238"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147391744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biological PsychologyPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-11DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109241
Sophie Egan, Constanze Weber, Marta Ghio, Christian Bellebaum
{"title":"I, You, Robot: Attenuation for auditory outcomes of actions performed by different agents shows distinct patterns for N1 and P2 amplitudes","authors":"Sophie Egan, Constanze Weber, Marta Ghio, Christian Bellebaum","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Compared to external tones, previous studies found reduced N1 and P2 amplitudes in event-related potentials not only for self-generated tones, referred to as sensory attenuation, but also for tones generated by a person the participant observed. The P2 in this situation was attenuated, even when accounting for temporal predictability. P2 attenuation has also been related to the judgement of agency, which refers to explicit agency attribution. To test whether the P2 attenuation in action observation depends on the attribution of agency to a human agent, we added conditions with robotic hands performing the tone-eliciting action. Therefore, we compared N1 and P2 amplitudes of tones generated by an observed action of another person using either their own or a robotic hand, and by the computer shown as a robotic hand, with those of unpredictable external tones. Only N1 amplitudes in action observation with a human agent (human or robotic hand) were significantly attenuated compared to unpredictable external tones, while the N1 for the different observation conditions did not differ from each other. The P2 was attenuated for all action-observation conditions compared to unpredictable external tones, while again the amplitudes of the action-observation conditions did not differ from each other. Thus, while the threshold for N1 attenuation during action observation may be reached only if a human is observed, the P2 showed attenuation effects irrespective of agency attribution. This contrasts with previous findings for the P2 suggesting agency-related effects. Future research could further examine the modulation of attenuation by the action-observation setting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55372,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychology","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 109241"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147461068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biological PsychologyPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-10DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109233
Yiyu Chen , Taeho Kang , Christian Wallraven
{"title":"Unmasking deceptive decisions in a two-player competitive game: Integrating ERPs, spectral-perturbation signatures, and interpretable neural-network decoding","authors":"Yiyu Chen , Taeho Kang , Christian Wallraven","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109233","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the feasibility of decoding deceptive or lying behavior from electroencephalography (EEG) neural signatures in a novel, interactive two-player game. The game was specifically designed to overcome previous methodological limitations in lie detection research, including insufficient incentives to lie, confounding lying with memory recollection, and a lack of control over participants’ risk-taking tendencies. The approach utilized a multi-modal EEG analysis framework that incorporated event-related potentials (ERP), event-related spectral perturbations (ERSP), as well as neural network-based single-trial decoding to differentiate between instructed and spontaneous lying or truth-telling. Key findings revealed that early ERP components (P200 and N200) successfully differentiated instructed truth-telling from other conditions, while a late ERP component (N300) and late positive potentials were indicative of deceit under varying conditions, correlating with participants’ risk-taking propensities. Alpha and low-beta spectral perturbations from the posterior regions further discriminated between the lying and truth-telling conditions. Cross-validated single-trial accuracy up to 57%—modest but reliable—demonstrates detectable deception signatures under strategic, incentive-calibrated interaction. This work advances our understanding of the neural dynamics of deception and lays a foundation for future real-world applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55372,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychology","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 109233"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147445980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biological PsychologyPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-28DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109229
Elva Arulchelvan , Caledonia Steltzner , Sven Vanneste
{"title":"Peripheral nerve stimulation using tDCS can enhance reconsolidation but cannot mitigate retrieval-induced forgetting","authors":"Elva Arulchelvan , Caledonia Steltzner , Sven Vanneste","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Memory reconsolidation refers to the process by which reactivated memories are rendered labile - and can be further strengthened or become sensitive to disruption. This study investigated whether non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the greater occipital nerve (NITESGON) using direct current stimulation (tDCS) can modulate reconsolidation processes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment, 38 healthy participants completed a Swahili-English paired-association task across three sessions over two consecutive days. Active or sham NITESGON was applied during reconsolidation, to test its effects on retrieval practice and retrieval-induced forgetting.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Active NITESGON significantly enhanced memory reconsolidation, as evidenced by superior retrieval of previously consolidated pairs (i.e. <em>no-change</em> pairs) compared to sham stimulation. However, critically, we demonstrate that NITESGON did not mitigate retrieval-induced forgetting: both groups exhibited greater forgetting of competing associations (<em>competing</em> pairs) than non-competing ones (<em>original</em> pairs). This study also highlights how active NITESGON (compared to sham) significantly enhanced consolidation, but not acquisition or forgetting processes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These findings demonstrate that peripheral nerve stimulation via tDCS can strengthen reconsolidation through retrieval practice, but does not alter retrieval-induced forgetting. This work elucidates the stage-specific influence of peripheral nerve stimulation on memory processes and highlights its potential translational value for conditions involving memory dysfunction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55372,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychology","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 109229"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147345775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}