Causal evidence of the roles of the prefrontal and occipital cortices in modulating the impact of color on moral judgement. (29th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gan, Tian; Zhang, Yuqi; Song, Dandan; Zheng, Yan; Martin, Donel M.
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychologia. Number 172(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07-29
• Subjects: Moral judgment -- Embodied cognition -- Color perception -- Transcranial direct current stimulation; tDCS transcranial direct current stimulation; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108267
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3932

Abstract

Abstract: Moral judgment is known to be affected by factors such as color. Previous research has shown that the colors black and white are particularly important, however, the neural mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between specific brain regions (left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left DLPFC and occipital cortex, OC) and their impact of black and white moral judgement by using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The results of Experiment 1 (N = 54) and Experiment 2 (N = 66) showed that anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC inhibited the impact of black and white on moral judgment while cathodal tDCS over the left DLPFC enhanced the effect. Conversely, anodal tDCS over the OC enhanced the impact of white on moral judgment, while cathodal tDCS over the OC inhibited it. Together these results suggest that moral judgment relies not only on the cognitive control network, but also brain regions important for sensory perception. The current findings provide enhanced insight into how colors can impact moral judgments. Highlights: Black is generally considered immoral, while white is moral. Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex inhibits the impact of colors on moral judgment. Occipital cortex promotes the influence of colors on moral judgment.