Enhancing Metacognitive Sensitivity through Orbitofrontal tDCS: A Translational Preventive Framework

Metacognitive sensitivity—the ability to accurately evaluate one’s own cognitive performance—is impaired across several psychiatric conditions and represents a valuable transdiagnostic factor for early risk detection. This project aims to determine the causal relationship between metacognitive deficits and psychopathological symptoms, advancing beyond correlational evidence. We will employ transcranial direct current stimulation to map and modulate the role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a central hub for prefrontal connectivity and higher-order self-monitoring functions. Online data collection in the general population will support the identification of developmental trajectories and metacognitive endophenotypes. We will then develop OFC-targeted stimulation protocols to enhance metacognitive sensitivity in at-risk individuals, evaluating their effects on psychological functioning. This project introduces an accessible, low-cost preventive model that integrates cognitive and neurobiological insights to strengthen resilience against psychiatric disorders.