{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,9]],"date-time":"2026-09-09T18:10:41Z","timestamp":1788977441023,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]],"date-time":"2026-08-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785888000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":216,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100021171","name":"Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2024A1515011746"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024A1515011746"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100021171","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Guangdong Provincial Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning","award":["GD23XYJ69"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["GD23XYJ69"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The decision to compete is a fundamental choice with significant real-world consequences, yet its underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. This decision requires reasoning about others\u2019 abilities and comparing them to one\u2019s own\u2014a process susceptible to overconfidence and heavily reliant on the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ), a key hub for social cognition. Using transcranial direct current stimulation, we causally investigated the rTPJ\u2019s role in competitive willingness. Participants received anodal, cathodal, or sham stimulation over the rTPJ before choosing whether to enter a tournament. Modulating rTPJ activity bidirectionally altered competitive behavior: cathodal (inhibitory) stimulation significantly increased the willingness to compete, whereas anodal (excitatory) stimulation significantly decreased it. Mechanistically, these behavioral shifts were associated with changes in overconfidence-related beliefs; cathodal stimulation inflated overconfidence, while anodal stimulation reduced it. Furthermore, we replicated the classic gender gap and discovered a crucial pattern: the neuromodulatory effect appeared gender specific in exploratory analyses, with cathodal stimulation boosting willingness in men and anodal suppressing it in women, though the interaction was non-significant. These findings provide the first causal evidence that the rTPJ is a key neural regulator of competitive choice, and its influence may fundamentally differ by gender, requiring future replication.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/scan\/nsag065","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]],"date-time":"2026-08-05T11:48:27Z","timestamp":1785930507000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Modulating the activity of the right temporoparietal junction alters the willingness to compete: the role of overconfidence"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0720-8870","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pengcheng","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Digital Economics and Trade, Guangzhou Maritime University , Guangzhou, 510725,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yutong","family":"Yan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Digital Economics and Trade, Guangzhou Maritime University , Guangzhou, 510725,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zichen","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Digital Economics and Trade, Guangzhou Maritime University , Guangzhou, 510725,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1987","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.2012.249730","article-title":"Partially non-linear stimulation intensity-dependent effects of direct current stimulation on motor cortex excitability in humans","volume":"591","author":"Batsikadze","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Physiol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"424","DOI":"10.1016\/j.geb.2005.03.007","article-title":"Self-referential thinking and equilibrium as states of mind in games: fMRI evidence","volume":"52","author":"Bhatt","year":"2005","journal-title":"Games Econ Behav"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1409","DOI":"10.1093\/qje\/qju009","article-title":"Gender, competitiveness, and career choices","volume":"129","author":"Buser","year":"2014","journal-title":"Q J Econ"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"755","DOI":"10.1162\/rest_a_01439","article-title":"Can competitiveness predict education and labor market outcomes? Evidence from incentivized choice and survey measures","volume":"108","author":"Buser","year":"2026","journal-title":"Rev Econ Stat"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.1257\/aer.89.1.306","article-title":"Overconfidence and excess entry: an experimental approach","volume":"89","author":"Camerer","year":"1999","journal-title":"Am Econ Rev"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B6","author":"Campbell","year":"2013"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1128977","DOI":"10.3388\/fnagi.2023.1128977","article-title":"Effects of transcranial direct-current stimulation and cognitive training on individuals with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"15","author":"Chu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Aging Neurosci"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"242","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2015.04.059","article-title":"Equality versus self-interest in the brain: differential roles of anterior insula and medial prefrontal cortex","volume":"115","author":"Civai","year":"2015","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"448","DOI":"10.1257\/jel.47.2.448","article-title":"Gender differences in preferences","volume":"47","author":"Croson","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Econ Lit"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"744","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2004.05.025","article-title":"The neural bases of cooperation and competition: an fMRI investigation","volume":"23","author":"Decety","year":"2004","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"527","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tics.2003.10.004","article-title":"Shared representations between self and other: a cognitive neuroscience view","volume":"7","author":"Decety","year":"2003","journal-title":"Trends Cogn Sci"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"327","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.87.3.327","article-title":"Perspective taking as egocentric anchoring and adjustment","volume":"87","author":"Epley","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Pers Soc Psychol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B13","author":"Falk","year":"2016"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.3758\/BF03193146","article-title":"GPower 3: a flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences","volume":"39","author":"Faul","year":"2007","journal-title":"Behav Res Methods"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12500","DOI":"10.1523\/jneurosci.3283-07.2007","article-title":"Diminishing risk-taking behavior by modulating activity in the prefrontal cortex: a direct current stimulation study","volume":"27","author":"Fecteau","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Neurosci"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6212","DOI":"10.1523\/jneurosci.0314-07.2007","article-title":"Activation of prefrontal cortex by transcranial direct current stimulation reduces appetite for risk during ambiguous decision making","volume":"27","author":"Fecteau","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Neurosci"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"817","DOI":"10.1162\/003355399556151","article-title":"A theory of fairness, competition, and cooperation","volume":"114","author":"Fehr","year":"1999","journal-title":"Q J Econ"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"R724","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cub.2007.05.068","article-title":"Social cognition in humans","volume":"17","author":"Frith","year":"2007","journal-title":"Curr Biol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"845","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinph.2005.12.003","article-title":"Transcranial DC stimulation (tDCS): a tool for double-blind sham-controlled clinical studies in brain stimulation","volume":"117","author":"Gandiga","year":"2006","journal-title":"Clin Neurophysiol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1326","DOI":"10.1037\/met0000628","article-title":"A sensitivity analysis for temporal bias in cross-sectional mediation","volume":"30","author":"Georgeson","year":"2025","journal-title":"Psychol Methods"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1637","DOI":"10.3982\/ECTA6690","article-title":"Gender differences in competition: evidence from a matrilineal and a patriarchal society","volume":"77","author":"Gneezy","year":"2009","journal-title":"Econometrica"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1049","DOI":"10.1162\/00335530360698496","article-title":"Performance in competitive environments: gender differences","volume":"118","author":"Gneezy","year":"2003","journal-title":"Q J Econ"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"542","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2009.01.063","article-title":"Competing with peers: mentalizing-related brain activity reflects what is at stake","volume":"46","author":"Halko","year":"2009","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2403","DOI":"10.1093\/ej\/uead012","article-title":"Culture and gender differences in willingness to compete","volume":"133","author":"Hauge","year":"2023","journal-title":"Econ J"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B25","author":"Hoffman","year":"2010"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1003","DOI":"10.1093\/scan\/nsu148","article-title":"Task-dependent and distinct roles of the temporoparietal junction and inferior frontal cortex in the control of imitation","volume":"10","author":"Hogeveen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1600","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2006.09.024","article-title":"10\/20, 10\/10, And 10\/5 systems revisited: their validity as relative head-surface-based positioning systems","volume":"34","author":"Jurcak","year":"2007","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1080\/13545701.2012.657662","article-title":"Gender and social preferences in the US: an experimental study","volume":"18","author":"Kamas","year":"2012","journal-title":"Fem Econ"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"474","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinph.2019.11.002","article-title":"Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): an update (2014-2018)","volume":"131","author":"Lefaucheur","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin Neurophysiol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"224","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2017.00224","article-title":"Whether modulating the activity of the temporalparietal junction alters distribution decisions within different contexts: evidence from a tDCS study","volume":"8","author":"Luo","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbr.2017.03.045","article-title":"Modulating the activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex by tDCS alters distributive decisions behind the veil of ignorance via risk preference","volume":"328","author":"Luo","year":"2017","journal-title":"Behav Brain Res"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22861","DOI":"10.1038\/srep2286","article-title":"Transcranial direct current stimulation over the right temporoparietal junction improves cognitive empathy","volume":"6","author":"Mai","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102476","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joep.2022.102476","article-title":"The gender gap in the willingness to compete: a meta-analysis","volume":"92","author":"Markowsky","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Econ Psychol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"278","DOI":"10.1037\/a0025655","article-title":"Competitiveness across the life span: the feisty fifties","volume":"27","author":"Mayr","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psychol Aging"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"502","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-295X.115.2.502","article-title":"The trouble with overconfidence","volume":"115","author":"Moore","year":"2008","journal-title":"Psychol Rev"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1007\/s10551-011-1094-4","article-title":"Some ethical implications of individual competitiveness","volume":"108","author":"Mudrack","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Bus Ethics"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1067","DOI":"10.1162\/qjec.122.3.1067","article-title":"Do women shy away from competition? Do men compete too much?","volume":"122","author":"Niederle","year":"2007","journal-title":"Q J Econ"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"601","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-economics-111809-125122","article-title":"Gender and competition","volume":"3","author":"Niederle","year":"2011","journal-title":"Annu Rev Econ"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"633","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7793.2000.t01-1-00633.x","article-title":"Excitability changes induced in the human motor cortex by weak transcranial direct current stimulation","volume":"527","author":"Nitsche","year":"2000","journal-title":"J Physiol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102365","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socec.2024.102365","article-title":"Happiness and willingness to compete","volume":"116","author":"Overdick","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Behav Exp Econ"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"515","DOI":"10.1017\/S0140525X00076512","article-title":"Does the chimpanzee have a theory of mind?","volume":"1","author":"Premack","year":"1978","journal-title":"Behav Brain Sci"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"890","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.54.5.890","article-title":"A principal-components analysis of the narcissistic personality inventory and further evidence of its construct validity","volume":"54","author":"Raskin","year":"1988","journal-title":"J Pers Soc Psychol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1037\/1089-2680.7.1.38","article-title":"\u201cI know, you know\u201d: epistemic egocentrism in children and adults","volume":"7","author":"Royzman","year":"2003","journal-title":"Rev Gen Psychol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"650","DOI":"10.1093\/scan\/nss045","article-title":"Enhancing social cognition by training non-invasive brain stimulation","volume":"7","author":"Santiesteban","year":"2012","journal-title":"Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1835","DOI":"10.1016\/S1053-8119(03)00230-1","article-title":"People thinking about thinking people: the role of the temporo-parietal junction in \u201ctheory of mind\u201d","volume":"19","author":"Saxe","year":"2003","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1391","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuropsychologia.2005.02.013","article-title":"Making sense of another mind: the role of the right temporo-parietal junction","volume":"43","author":"Saxe","year":"2005","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2016.04.069","article-title":"Distinct neural patterns of social cognition for cooperation versus competition","volume":"137","author":"Tsoi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"751","DOI":"10.1086\/718688","article-title":"When parents decide: gender differences in competitiveness","volume":"131","author":"Tungodden","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Polit Econ"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1031","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinph.2015.11.012","article-title":"A technical guide to tDCS, and related non-invasive brain stimulation tools","volume":"127","author":"Woods","year":"2016","journal-title":"Clin Neurophysiol"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2658","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuropsychologia.2010.05.012","article-title":"What gets the attention of the temporo-parietal junction? An fMRI investigation of attention and theory of mind","volume":"48","author":"Young","year":"2010","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"2026090913511234300_nsag065-B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"481","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2021.09.012","article-title":"Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor learning in healthy elderly individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"131","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Neurosci Biobehavior Rev"}],"container-title":["Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/scan\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/scan\/nsag065\/70496311\/nsag065.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"am","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/scan\/article-pdf\/21\/1\/nsag065\/70496311\/nsag065.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/scan\/article-pdf\/21\/1\/nsag065\/70496311\/nsag065.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,9]],"date-time":"2026-09-09T17:51:17Z","timestamp":1788976277000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/scan\/article\/doi\/10.1093\/scan\/nsag065\/8752617"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026]]},"references-count":51,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/scan\/nsag065","relation":{},"ISSN":["1749-5016","1749-5024"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1749-5016","type":"print"},{"value":"1749-5024","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2026]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2026]]},"article-number":"nsag065"}}