Table 1 rTMS and tDCS studies in emotion regulation

rTMS

Berger et al. 2015 [3]

Autonomic reactions to affective pictures

F40/Crossover design (with an interval of 2 weeks once with a real rTMS and once with a sham rTMS)

R DLPFC/one session of LF rTMS (1 Hz) or one session of HF rTMS (10 Hz), and sham stimulation/10 Hz rTMS impulse train lasted 5 s, with an inter stimulus-interval of 10 s, and included 18 trains with 900 pulses in total, and had an overall duration of 4.5 min. The 1 Hz rTMS was applied continuously for 15 min with 900 pulses in total.

The LF rTMS increased heart rate deceleration for negative and neutral pictures, compared to positive pictures. However, the HF rTMS did not influence the cardiac orienting response to picture valence and arousal.

De Raedt et al. 2010 [15]

Attentional aspect of emotion regulation

F18 + F19/Combination of single-blind randomized crossover within-subjects design (HF-rTMS - L DLPFC and sham stimulation (n = 18), one week’s time interval)) and between-subjects design (HF-rTMS - R DLPFC (n = 19), compared to the sham condition of HF-rTMS - L DLPFC)

R or L DLPFC/HF (10 Hz) rTMS and sham/Stimulation intensity of 110 % of the subject’s motor threshold/40 trains of 3.9s duration, separated by an intertrain interval of 26.1s (1560 pulses per session).

R prefrontal HF rTMS delayed disengagement from angry faces.

Schutter and van Honk, 2009 [68]

Mood in emotion regulation

F12/Single-blind, sham and occipital-controlled crossover design,

Cerebellar, occipital, or sham stimulation (on three separate days)/LF (1 Hz) rTMS/Stimulation intensity: 45 % of maximum machine output/for 20 min

Cerebellar rTMS increased negative mood after an emotion regulation task for aversive and neutral scenes.

Vanderhasselt et al. 2011 [75]

Attentional aspect of emotion regulation

F28/Sham (placebo-)controlled, double blind crossover design

R DLPFC/HF (10 Hz) rTMS and sham/Stimulation intensity: 110% of the motor threshold (MT). 40 trains of 3.9 s duration, separated by an intertrain interval of 26.1 s (1560 pulses per session). The total stimulation time was approximately 20 min.

Higher baseline self reported state anxiety scores showed greater attentional biased toward negative information after HF rTMS.

Zwanzger et al. 2014 [87]

Affective processing of emotional stimuli

40 (F23)/Sham-controlled, between-subject design

R DLPFC/LF (1 Hz) rTMS and sham/Stimulation intensity of 120 % related to the individual motor threshold/for 30 min

Increased activation for fearful faces compared to neutral faces in the right temporal parietal junction (TPJ) region between 110 and 170 ms.

tDCS

Feeser et al, 2014 [20]

Arousal during emotion regulation

48 (F25)/Double-blind, between-subjects design

Anodal tDCS - R DLPFC (F4), Cathode tDCS - L supraorbital region. 1.5 mA for 20 min. Applied during the emotion regulation task and started 4 min before the task.

During down regulation decreased skin conductance responses (SCR) and emotional arousal ratings. During up regulation increased arousal ratings and SCR

Peña-Gómez et al. 2011 [56]

Negative affect for negative stimuli

F16/Randomized, sham-controlled, crossover trial

DLPFC/L anodal (F3)/R cathodal (C4) and sham tDCS/1 mA for 20 min.

Decreased negative affect for negative stimuli,while higher introversion personality dimension scores produced an increased effect

Pripfl and Lamm 2015 [59]

Negative affect for negative pictures

17 smokers (F11)/Within-subjects design

DLPFC/L anodal, R anodal, and sham stimulation A direct current of 0.45 mA intensity (anodal current density: 0.085 mA/cm2) for 15 min

R anodal tDCS - DLPFC decreased negative affect for negative pictures

Rêgo et al. 2015 [62]

Pain stimuli

24 (M12)/Double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled study.

DLPFC/L anodal/R cathodal, L cathodal/R anodal, and sham tDCS/2 mA/tDCS started 5 min prior to the experimental task, and throughout the entirety of the task (a total of approximately 15 min of stimulation)

L cathodal/R anodal, tDCS decreased valence and arousal evaluations compared to other tDCS conditions. Both left-cathodal/right-anodal and left-anodal/right-cathodal tDCS decreased self-pain perception, hostility and sadness compared to sham condition

Riva et al. 2015a [63]

Regulation of negative emotions (social exclusion)

80 (F63)/Between-subjects design

Anodal tDCS or sham stimulation - rVLPFC, reference (cathodal) electrode - contralateral supraorbital area. 1.5 mA for 20 min

Reduced behavioral aggression

Riva et al. 2015b [64]

Regulation of negative emotions (social exclusion)

82 (F50) - Exp1 & 40 (F25) - Exp2/Double-blind, between-subjects design

Exp1: Cathodal tDCS (rVLPFC) or sham, reference (anodal) electrode - contralateral supraorbital area. Exp2: Cathodal tDCS (R posterior parietal cortex), reference (anodal) electrode - contralateral supraorbital area. 1.5 mA for 20 min

Cathodal tDCS of rVLPFC increased negative emotional reactions brought out by social exclusion

Sarkar A, et al. 2014 [67]

Mathematics anxiety

High mathematics anxiety group (25 (M10)) & Low mathematics anxiety group (20 (F13))/Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design

DLPFC/L anodal/R cathodal tDCS and sham stimulation/1 mA for 30 min

Compared to sham stimulation, high mathematics-anxiety individuals showed reduced RT on simple arithmetic decisions and cortisol concentrations; however, compared to sham stimulation, low math anxiety subjects showed decreased RT and cortisol concentration.

Vanderhasselt et al. 2013 [76]

Momentary ruminative self-referent thoughts

32 (F20)/Sham controlled within subjects study. An interval of at least 48 h.

DLPFC/L anodal (F3)/R cathodal (supra orbital area) and sham tDCS/2 mA for 20 min

Reduced momentary ruminative self-referent thoughts were reported from subjects updating and shifting from angry faces to neutral faces