Psychophysiological correlates of behavioural inhibition and activation

Abstract

Psychophysiological arousal measures were investigated in relation to scores on behavioural inhibition and activation scales derived from the Gray–Wilson Personality Questionnaire (GWPQ). Ss were 63 psychology students, aged 18–37, whose skin conductance (SC) and heart rate (HR) were recorded before and during a 2-min mental arithmetic task. EEG was recorded in a resting state. The Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were also administered. Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) scores [along with Neuroticism (N) and Trait Anxiety (TA)] were related to high beta and gamma EEG activity in frontal areas and low delta and theta activity in temporal, parietal and left frontal areas. Behavioural Activation System (BAS) scores were related to high delta and theta activity in parietal areas and were negatively related to respiratory sinus arrhythmia and HR acceleration during mental arithmetic. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that behavioural activation is associated with autonomic and cortical underarousal while behavioural inhibition is associated with high cortical arousal, especially in the right hemisphere.