Computational Mechanisms of Reactive Aggression and the Role of the Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

This pre-registered study investigates the computational and neural mechanisms of reactive aggression. We propose that reactive aggression involves value-based decision-making characterized by three parameters: retaliation intensity (κ), under-retaliation aversion (α₁), and over-retaliation aversion (α₂). Experiment 1 develops a computational model incorporating these parameters. Experiment 2 uses high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, with sham stimulation as control, to test the causal role of this region in modulating aggressive decisions.