Zorns Samantha, Sierzputowski Claudia, Ash Sydney, Skowron Molly, Minervini Anthony, LaVarco Adriana, Pardillo Matthew, Keenan Julian Paul
Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, United States.
Front Hum Neurosci. 2024 Aug 14;18:1333733. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1333733. eCollection 2024.
Previous studies have demonstrated that brain stimulation can alter an individual's physical appearance via dysregulation of the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). In this study, we attempted to determine if individuals who receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) delivered to the MPFC were rated as more attractive by others. It has been previously reported that 1 hertz (Hz) (inhibitory) TMS can alter one's facial expressions such that frontal cortex inhibition can increase expressiveness. These alterations, detected by external observation, remain below the level of awareness of the subject itself. In Phase I, subjects ( = 10) received MPFC rTMS and had their photographs taken after each of the five stimulation conditions, in addition to making self-ratings across a number of variables, including attractiveness. In Phase II, participants ( = 430) rated five pictures of each of the Phase 1 individuals on attractiveness. It was found that there were no significant differences in self-assessment following rTMS (Phase I). However, attractiveness ratings differed significantly in Phase II. There was a significant difference found between 10 Hz TMS delivered to the MPFC ( < 0.001), such that individuals were rated as less attractive. Furthermore, 1 Hz TMS to the MPFC increased the number of 'Most Attractive' ratings, while 10Hz TMS decreased the number of 'Most Attractive' ratings ( < 0.001). These results suggest that the MPFC plays a role in attractiveness ratings to others. These data also support research showing that one's appearance can be altered below the level of awareness via rTMS. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation to examine how brain stimulation influences one's attractiveness.
先前的研究表明，大脑刺激可通过内侧前额叶皮质（MPFC）的调节异常改变个体的外貌。在本研究中，我们试图确定接受经颅磁刺激（rTMS）作用于MPFC的个体是否会被他人评为更具吸引力。此前有报道称，1赫兹（Hz）（抑制性）的TMS可改变人的面部表情，使得额叶皮质抑制可增强表现力。这些通过外部观察检测到的改变仍处于受试者自身意识水平之下。在第一阶段，10名受试者接受了MPFC的rTMS，并在五种刺激条件中的每一种之后拍摄照片，此外还对包括吸引力在内的多个变量进行了自我评分。在第二阶段，430名参与者对第一阶段每个个体的五张照片的吸引力进行了评分。结果发现，rTMS后（第一阶段）的自我评估没有显著差异。然而，在第二阶段，吸引力评分存在显著差异。作用于MPFC的10Hz TMS之间存在显著差异（<0.001），即个体被评为吸引力较低。此外，对MPFC进行1Hz TMS增加了“最具吸引力”评分的数量，而10Hz TMS减少了“最具吸引力”评分的数量（<0.001）。这些结果表明，MPFC在对他人的吸引力评分中起作用。这些数据也支持了一项研究，该研究表明，通过rTMS可以在意识水平以下改变人的外貌。据我们所知，这是第一项研究大脑刺激如何影响一个人吸引力的调查。
