Basal forebrain and neural correlates of self-regulation traits in sustained attention

Self-regulation is a human trait consistently associated with success in both academic and professional settings and with better mental health. Based on previous findings, we used functional imaging data in a sustained attention task to test three hypotheses on neural substrates associated with individual differences in self-regulation. The first linked higher self-regulation and cognitive control, predicting modulation of recruitment of prefrontal substrates. The second, originating in the animal literature, suggests increased recruitment of cholinergic substrates in the basal forebrain. The third predicted higher modulation of reward-sensitive regions in the brainstem in less regulated individuals for differences in reward levels during the task. The second hypothesis was confirmed by our study, which also provided suggestive evidence for the third hypothesis. Our data suggest that one mechanism of higher self-regulation in humans may ensue from greater activity in the cholinergic system to sustain attention during a cognitively simple task.