Orbitofrontal tDCS Modulation of Delay Discounting for Early Prevention of Psychiatric Vulnerability

Delay Discounting (DD), the tendency to favor immediate over delayed rewards, is a robust transdiagnostic marker altered across numerous psychiatric disorders. This project aims to establish the causal influence of DD on the emergence of psychopathological symptoms and to evaluate its potential as a target for preventive intervention. We will use high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) to precisely modulate the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a key region for reward valuation and prefrontal connectivity. Large-scale online assessments will allow us to profile DD across the general population, identify developmental trajectories, and detect potential endophenotypes. Finally, we will design OFC-targeted stimulation protocols to stabilize DD patterns in vulnerable individuals, assessing their impact on mental health and refining personalized neuromodulation strategies. This project proposes a scalable, cost-effective preventive approach grounded in the neurobiology of impulsive decision-making.