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BIS-BAS sensitivity and cardiac autonomic stress profiles
Tarja Heponiemi1, Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen, Joni Kettunen
1Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Psychophysiology
|December 25, 2003
Summary
Behavioral approach system (BAS) sensitivity relates to heart rate reactivity and parasympathetic withdrawal during stress. Behavioral inhibition system (BIS) sensitivity showed no significant links to cardiac autonomic stress responses in healthy adults.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychophysiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Gray's theory posits distinct behavioral inhibition (BIS) and behavioral approach (BAS) systems influencing responses to stimuli.
- Understanding the link between these personality dimensions and physiological stress responses is crucial for psychophysiological research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between BIS and BAS sensitivities and cardiac autonomic stress responses.
- To examine how these personality traits relate to heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and preejection period during laboratory stressors.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-five healthy adults (34 men, 31 women) aged 22-37 years participated.
- BIS and BAS sensitivities were assessed using Carver and White's BIS-BAS scales.
- Cardiac autonomic responses (heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, preejection period) were measured during mental arithmetic, reaction time, and speech tasks.
Main Results:
- Higher BAS sensitivity was associated with greater heart rate reactivity and parasympathetic withdrawal during tasks.
- No significant relationship was found between BAS sensitivity and baseline cardiac autonomic measures.
- BIS sensitivity was not related to either reactivity or baseline levels of cardiac autonomic measures.
Conclusions:
- BAS sensitivity appears to be linked to cardiac reactivity, potentially mediated by parasympathetic nervous system activity.
- BIS sensitivity does not seem to directly influence cardiac autonomic stress responses in this sample.
- These findings contribute to understanding the psychophysiological underpinnings of personality traits related to reward and punishment sensitivity.