edoc

Downregulation of the posterior medial frontal cortex prevents social conformity

Klucharev, Vasily and Munneke, Moniek A. M. and Smidts, Ale and Fernández, Guillén. (2011) Downregulation of the posterior medial frontal cortex prevents social conformity. Journal of Neuroscience, 31 (33). pp. 11934-11940.

[img]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
Available under License CC BY (Attribution).

546Kb

Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A6056156

Downloads: Statistics Overview

Abstract

We often change our behavior to conform to real or imagined group pressure. Social influence on our behavior has been extensively studied in social psychology, but its neural mechanisms have remained largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that the transient downregulation of the posterior medial frontal cortex by theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces conformity, as indicated by reduced conformal adjustments in line with group opinion. Both the extent and probability of conformal behavioral adjustments decreased significantly relative to a sham and a control stimulation over another brain area. The posterior part of the medial frontal cortex has previously been implicated in behavioral and attitudinal adjustments. Here, we provide the first interventional evidence of its critical role in social influence on human behavior.
Faculties and Departments:07 Faculty of Psychology
UniBasel Contributors:Klucharev, Vasiliy
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Society for Neuroscience
ISSN:0270-6474
e-ISSN:1529-2401
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
Related URLs:
Identification Number:
edoc DOI:
Last Modified:27 Nov 2017 14:10
Deposited On:24 May 2013 09:18

Repository Staff Only: item control page