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BIS/BAS sensitivity and emotional modulation in a prepulse-inhibition paradigm: A brain potential study
Kathrin Sommer1, Maurits W van der Molen2, Vilfredo De Pascalis3
1Department of Psychology, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Physiology & Behavior
|December 2, 2015
Summary
Emotional stimuli modulate prepulse inhibition (PPI), with individual differences in behavioral activation system (BAS) sensitivity playing a key role. This impacts the startle response and cognitive processing of emotions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychophysiology
- Affective Science
Background:
- Prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala interactions are crucial for emotional regulation.
- Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) and Behavioral Activation System (BAS) are individual difference factors influencing emotional responses.
- Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a psychophysiological measure of sensorimotor gating, sensitive to attentional and emotional modulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of emotional valence and arousal on PPI.
- To examine the role of individual differences in BIS and BAS sensitivity in emotion-modulated PPI.
- To explore the neural correlates of emotion-modulated PPI using auditory evoked potentials (N100, P200).
Main Methods:
- Fifty participants completed a PPI task involving auditory stimuli of varying emotional valence and arousal.
- Eyeblink reflex and auditory evoked potentials (N100, P200) were recorded.
- Individual differences in BIS and BAS sensitivity were assessed using validated questionnaires.
Main Results:
- PPI increased from positive to negative emotional stimuli at parietal sites, affecting both N100 and P200 components.
- N100 amplitude was sensitive to high-arousal emotional valence, while P200 was sensitive to low-arousal emotional valence.
- Higher BAS sensitivity, but not BIS sensitivity, correlated with enhanced emotional modulation of the startle response and PPI, particularly for the N100.
Conclusions:
- PPI is demonstrably sensitive to emotional modulation, influenced by the interplay of stimulus valence and arousal.
- Individual differences in BAS sensitivity significantly mediate the emotional modulation of the startle response and PPI.
- Findings suggest that emotional states and traits bias selective encoding of affective stimuli, influencing behavioral output.
