TMS affects moral judgment, showing the role of DLPFC and TPJ in cognitive and emotional processing

It may state two separate claims as one.

TPJ plays an important role in ToM, empathy, and social cognition.

“TPJ plays an important role in ToM, empathy, and social cognition (Saxe and Kanwisher, 2003; Carter et al., 2012; Santiesteban et al., 2012; Van Overwalle and Vandekerckhove, 2013).”

• cites Saxe and Kanwisher, 2003 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Carter et al., 2012 sourcePartly supported

  In the section labeled Abstract (no page available), the paper describes a specific TPJ role in social cognition and links it to mental inference, supporting the social-cognition and ToM portions of the claim. Our copy does not address a TPJ role in empathy; its finding is also limited to decisions involving socially relevant agents. (LLM, conf=0.86)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Santiesteban et al., 2012 sourceSupported

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Participants were very confident about their decisions, with average confidence ratings between four and six across all three moral conditions and two stimulation sites.

“Overall, the participants were very confident about their decisions and they rated their level of confidence on average between four and six for all three moral conditions and two stimulation sites.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Disrupting activity in the DLPFC leads to lower feelings of regret after the decision, indicating that the DLPFC is involved in the evaluation of the decision.

“Disrupting activity in the DLPFC lead to lower feelings of regret after the decision, indicating that the DLPFC is involved in the evaluation of the decision.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Disruption of the DLPFC during the decision makes the outcome of moral-personal judgment less affirmative, while disruption of TPJ affects moral-impersonal conditions.

“Whereas disruption of the DLPFC during the decision makes the outcome of moral-personal judgment becomes less affirmative, disruption of TPJ affects moral-impersonal conditions.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Regret ratings were highest in moral-personal dilemmas, lower in moral-impersonal dilemmas, and very low in non-moral control questions.

“The highest regret rating was observed in the moral-personal dilemmas, lower ratings were observed in the moral-impersonal dilemmas, and very low ratings were observed in the non-moral control questions.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

There is a time-specific double dissociation between DLPFC and TPJ for moral-personal and moral-impersonal judgment, with a significant difference between stimulation sites at 2.5 s but not at 1.5, 2, or 3 s.

“The statistical test of the within-subjects contrast reveals a time-specific double dissociation between the two stimulation sites (DLPFC and TPJ) for the moral-personal and moral-impersonal judgment as shown by a significant difference between the two stimulation sites when stimulated at 2.5 s (t = 2.779, p < 0.02), and not for the other three time points”

• Also stated in: § Abstract · plain

  “we find a double-dissociation between DLPFC and TPJ in the outcome of a moral decision.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: TMS over the right DLPFC and right TPJ disrupts neural activity in those regions.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Confidence ratings were highest for non-moral decisions (average 5.65), followed by moral-impersonal (5.10), and lowest for moral-personal (4.78).

“Participants showed the highest confidence levels for non-moral decisions (average rating of 5.65), followed by their confidence in the moral-impersonal condition (average rating of 5.10), finally participants showed the lowest confidence levels in the moral-personal condition (average rating of 4.78).”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Participants indicated that they do not wish to change their judgment.

“For the last question, participants indicate that they do not wish to change their judgment.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Although TMS changes participants' moral judgment in a time-specific way, in hindsight they do not change their response, they feel confident about their judgment, and they take full responsibility for their actions.

“We observed that, although we change the participants' moral judgment in a time-specific way, in hindsight, they do not change their response, they feel confident about their judgment, and they take full responsibility for their actions.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

By influencing either the emotional response or the reasoning process in an online event-related TMS paradigm, we showed that the outcome of the moral decision could be influenced.

“By influencing either the emotional response or the reasoning process in an online event-related TMS paradigm, we showed that the outcome of the moral decision could be influenced.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The number of study participants is relatively small.

“Furthermore, the number of study participants is relatively small and in any case, it would be interesting to examine a larger subject pool to increase the generalizability of our findings.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

One participant was excluded from further analysis because of very short reaction times.

“One participant was excluded from further analysis because of very short reaction times, (i.e., most responses were given before TMS was applied).”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Our results are in accordance with the dual-process theory, which distinguishes an initial emotional response and a more elaborative cognitive reasoning that can both influence the decision outcome.

“Our results are in accordance with the dual-process theory, which distinguishes an initial emotional response and a more elaborative cognitive reasoning that can both influence the decision outcome.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

All trials with reaction times <3.3 s or >20 s were removed from the data.

“All the trials in which reaction times were too short (<3.3 s) or too long (>20 s) were removed from the data.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Another area conjectured to be associated with the emotional response is the temporal cortex.

“Another area that is conjectured to be associated with the emotional response is the temporal cortex (Heekeren et al., 2005; Moll et al., 2005).”

• cites Heekeren et al., 2005Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Moll et al., 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim.

Previous research has shown that the DLPFC plays a role in reasoning and decision-making.

“Previous research has shown that the DLPFC plays a role in reasoning and decision-making (Baraclough et al., 2004; Ernst and Paulus, 2005; Van't Wout et al., 2005; Fleck et al., 2006).”

• cites Baraclough et al., 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Ernst and Paulus, 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Van't Wout et al., 2005Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The current study is somewhat limited in statistical power because of the chronometric study design that includes many levels of the tested variables.

“Beyond such considerations, the current study is somewhat limited in statistical power because of the chronometric study design that includes many levels of the tested variables.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The presentation order of the different moral conditions and the time point of stimulation were both randomized for each participant.

“The presentation order of the different moral conditions and the time point of stimulation were both randomized for each participant.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

Activity in the prefrontal cortex is important for the cognitive reasoning process, which can counteract the emotional response.

“Specifically, the activity in the prefrontal cortex is thought to be important for the cognitive reasoning process, which can counteract the emotional response.”

• cites Greene et al., 2001, 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

Moral decision-making involves an automatic emotional response and a controlled application of a utilitarian decision-rule (dual-process theory).

“According to this theory, moral decision-making involves an automatic emotional response and a controlled application of a utilitarian decision-rule.”

• cites Greene et al., 2001, 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Our results show an important role of the TPJ in moral judgment and are in line with earlier findings.

“Our results show an important role of the TPJ in moral judgment and are therefore in line with earlier findings.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

TMS allows establishing a causal link between brain activity and behavior, whereas neuroimaging only correlates.

“Additionally, whereas neuroimaging correlates activity to behavior, TMS allows us to establish a causal link between the two.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Both feelings of empathy and TOM are related to activity in TPJ.

“Both feelings of empathy and TOM are related to activity in TPJ (Saxe, 2006; Young et al., 2010).”

• cites Saxe, 2006 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Young et al., 2010 sourceNot checked yet

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Our frontal TMS target area does not exactly overlap with the coordinates of the frontal areas reported by Greene et al.

“Furthermore, given that our frontal TMS target area does not exactly overlap with the coordinates of the frontal areas reported by Greene et al. (see for example Greene et al., 2001, 2004), it could be the case that there are several sub regions within the frontal cortex which are involved in moral decision making.”

• cites Greene et al., 2001, 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

In earlier studies, the cingulate cortex was found to be involved in the emotional response.

“In earlier studies, the cingulate cortex was found to be involved in the emotional response (Greene et al., 2001; Moll et al., 2005).”

• cites Greene et al., 2001 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Moll et al., 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

It may state two separate claims as one.

Although moral-impersonal dilemmas elicit a weaker emotional response than moral-personal dilemmas, TMS over the right TPJ seems to boost the emotional response in moral-impersonal dilemmas.

“Although the moral-impersonal dilemmas do in itself elicit a weaker emotional response when compared to moral-personal dilemmas (Greene et al., 2001, 2004), the decision outcome of the moral-impersonal dilemmas changes in such a way that TMS seems to “boost” the emotional response in these dilemmas.”

• cites Greene et al., 2001, 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

The TMS target point for DLPFC is not exactly the same as coordinates found by Greene et al. (2001, 2004), but chosen because preliminary fMRI showed a difference in BOLD response between moral personal and moral impersonal dilemmas.

“Although the TMS target point for the DLPFC is not exactly the same as the coordinates found for the frontal regions by Greene et al. (2001, 2004), we chose this area because our preliminary fMRI results showed a difference in BOLD response between the moral personal and the moral impersonal dilemmas.”

• cites Greene et al., 2001, 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The position of the TMS coil with respect to the TMS target-areas were monitored online using Brainsight neuronavigation software.

“The position of the TMS coil with respect to the TMS target-areas were monitored online using Brainsight neuronavigation software (version 2.0, Rogue Research).”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The results support the dual-process theory and indicate that both emotional response and cognitive reasoning processes are involved in moral judgment/decision outcome.

“Our results are in line with the dual-process theory and suggest a role for both the emotional response and cognitive reasoning process in moral judgment.”

• Also stated in: § Abstract · plain

  “Both the emotional and cognitive processes were shown to be involved in the decision outcome.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: TMS over the right DLPFC and right TPJ disrupts neural activity in those regions.

Probably not a substantial claim.

In moral-personal dilemmas, the emotional response is too strong to be overruled by the cognitive system.

“In moral-personal dilemmas, this emotional response is thought to be too strong to be overruled by the cognitive system.”

• cites Greene, 2007 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The dual-process theory predicts that the emotional response in the trolley dilemma is lower than in the footbridge dilemma and cognitive control generally overrules the non-utilitarian emotional response.

“The dual-process theory (Greene et al., 2001, 2004) predicts that the emotional response in the trolley dilemma is lower than in the footbridge dilemma and cognitive control generally overrules the non-utilitarian emotional response.”

• cites Greene et al., 2001, 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim.

Increased activity in DLPFC is related to increased cognitive effort put in counteracting the (non-utilitarian) emotional response.

“Increased activity in DLPFC is thought to be related to the increased cognitive effort that is put in counteracting the (non-utilitarian) emotional response (Greene et al., 2004).”

• cites Greene et al., 2004 sourceNot checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

It may state two separate claims as one.

The double dissociation seems to be driven by results obtained in both the DLPFC and TPJ conditions, but the post-hoc analysis shows the results for DLPFC are statistically more reliable than those for TPJ.

“However, although this double dissociation seems to be driven by the results obtained in both the DLPFC as well as in the TPJ condition, we would like to point out that the post-hoc statistical analysis also shows that the results for the DLPFC are statistically more reliable than those for the TPJ.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Experiments using fMRI have found the cingulate cortex to be involved in moral judgment.

“Experiments using fMRI (Greene et al., 2004), have found the cingulate cortex to be involved in moral judgment.”

• cites Greene et al., 2004 sourceNot checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Reaction times below 3.3 s were considered too short because on these trials the TMS pulses were not applied for the last time condition.

“Reaction times below 3.3 s were considered to be too short because on these trials the TMS pulses were not applied for the last time condition.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Effects of TMS on the evaluation questions can be caused by either a direct TMS effect on evaluation or, more likely, an indirect effect caused by changing the decision process with TMS.

“Effects of TMS on the evaluation questions can be caused by either a direct TMS effect on the evaluation, or, more likely, an indirect effect on the evaluation that is caused by changing the decision process with TMS.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

It could be the case that there are several subregions within the frontal cortex involved in moral decision making.

“Furthermore, given that our frontal TMS target area does not exactly overlap with the coordinates of the frontal areas reported by Greene et al. (see for example Greene et al., 2001, 2004), it could be the case that there are several sub regions within the frontal cortex which are involved in moral decision making.”

• cites Greene et al., 2001, 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The questionnaire is designed such that participants respond "appropriate" and "inappropriate" equally often and has been validated in earlier experiments.

“The questionnaire is designed such that participants respond “appropriate” and “inappropriate” equally often and has been validated in earlier experiments (the entire questionnaire is available in the supplementary material of Greene et al., 2001).”

• cites Greene et al., 2001 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim.

The TMS design does not suffer from the disadvantages of lesion studies (non-focal lesions, compensatory strategies, difficult comparison).

“Whereas lesions are often not focal, patients may develop compensatory strategies, and results across patients are difficult to compare, our TMS design does not suffer from these disadvantages.”