Role Of Behavioral Inhibition System Research Articles

Frontal alpha asymmetries and behavioral immune system: moderating role of behavioral inhibition system

Background and purpose: Behavioral immune system is a cluster of psychological mechanisms enabling detection and avoidance of pathogens in one’s immediate environment. Its presumed activation has been implicated in myriads of psychological phenomena, stemming from pathogen related disgust to more complex behaviors, such as mate choice and xenophobic cognitions. However, little is known about its biological underpinnings. The aim of this preliminary study was twofold: 1) to explore the role of another neuropsychological system governing avoidant motivations, the behavioral inhibition system, in pathogen-induced disgust and 2) to determine if frontal hemispheric asymmetries (a neural correlate of avoidant motivations) might serve as indicators of behavioral immune system activation. Materials and methods: 62 participants completed the Behavioral inhibition scale. Based on their z-scores, two extreme groups were formed: high (n=9) and low behavioral inhibition (n=9) group. After the baseline EEG recordings, participants were exposed to a set of neutral stimuli, followed by a set of pathogen disgust inducing stimuli. The frontal asymmetry (FAA) indexes (lnR-LnL) were calculated within both low (8-10 Hz) and high (11-13 Hz) alpha frequency bands on analogue pairs of frontal electrodes. Results: There were no baseline FAA differences between groups. However, compared to low behavioral inhibition group, high behavioral inhibition group showed larger shifts in FAA on frontopolar locations while watching the pathogen related disgust-inducing stimuli, as compared to neutral photographs. Conclusions: This pattern of FAA shifts suggests that high behavioral inhibition individuals attend to pathogen threat related cues more readily, i.e., have a more reactive behavioral immune system. With this preliminary study we are proposing a new line of research in order to determine if there is evidence of a calibrated response in terms of interplay between one’s immune status and pathogen treat related neural reactivity.

Anxious activism: The role of behavioral inhibition system in the radicalization process

Many individuals that engage with “terroristic content” do so in online settings. Most research on online exposure to dangerous materials focuses on the content and who is posting it, and thus there is a lack of understanding on what individual traits motivate individuals to engage with extreme online content. The Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) controls motivations to withdraw from a stimulus and can coordinate anxiety responses to acts of terrorism (Carver, 2004). However, anxiety (and therefore the BIS) can also motivate individuals to engage further with terroristic material and/or groups via the “quest for significance” (Kruglanski et al., 2014). As such, individual differences in BIS functioning may play a role in governing the relationship between exposure to extremist content and motivations to engage in extremist behavior. Using an experimental survey design in which individuals are exposed to terroristic content in an online setting, this study explores the role of BIS sensitivity in the willingness to engage with terroristic content and individual differences in ensuing activism and radicalism intentions. In support of our hypotheses, BIS sensitivity predicted increased intentions towards radicalism and activism in support of a terrorist group after exposure to terroristic content online. These findings support the quest for significance model, which posits that existential anxiety can play a role in motivating individuals toward radicalization and violent extremism.

How can the Alexithymia and Behavioural Inhibition predict the perceived pain intensity in patients with chronic pain?

ObjectiveThis study investigates the mediating role of behavioral inhibition system in the relationship between alexithymia and perceived pain intensity in patients with chronic pain, and the moderating role of anxiety in the relationship between behavioral inhibition system and the perceived pain intensity in such patients. MethodsThe research was conducted on 440 patients with chronic pain who were referred to pain centers in Tehran. Participants were asked to answer Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), The Inhibition/Activation System Scale (BIS/BAS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for perceived pain intensity, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). ResultsThe results indicated that behavioral inhibition system plays a mediating role in the relationship between alexithymia and perceived pain intensity in patients with chronic pain. Anxiety plays a moderating role in the relationship between the behavioral inhibition system and perceived pain intensity, as well. ConclusionThe relationship between alexithymia and the perceived pain intensity is not a simple linear one, but is mediated by behavioral inhibition system. Also, anxiety determines the effect of the behavioral inhibition system on the perceived pain intensity of the patients.

Links between relational aggression, parenting and personality among adolescents

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the mediating role of behavioral inhibition system, referring to the inhibition of behavior, and behavioral activation system (BAS), related to impulsivity, in the association between perceived parenting behaviors and relational aggression. It simultaneously investigated the moderating effects of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in this association in a sample of 261 (127 girls) Greek junior high school students who completed a self-report questionnaire. Results of the mediation analyses revealed that BAS was a partial mediator in the relationship between low parental psychological autonomy and relational aggression, as well as between low parental behavioral control and relational aggression. The effect of low parental psychological autonomy on relationally aggressive behavior was also significantly stronger when CU traits were present (moderator). The results emphasize that both individual and interpersonal factors should be taken into consideration when studying relational aggression.

Individual differences in response to uncertainty and decision making: The role of behavioral inhibition system and need for closure.

In two studies, we examined the influence of behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and need for closure (NFC) on information processing in decision making. We expected that BIS would regulate behavior in a decisional context and that this relationship would be mediated by epistemic motivation expressed by NFC. In addition, drawing on contradictory findings in the literature on anxiety, NFC, and information processing, we investigated the moderating role of decision rules. The results supported our predictions. BIS was strongly and positively related to NFC, and through NFC it was related to decision-making style. Moreover, decision task characteristics moderated the relationship between NFC and decision making. When a task did not offer a confident decision rule, high NFC participants prolonged the information search more than low NFC individuals. However, when a reliable strategy was suggested, high NFC participants behaved in line with it. These results are discussed within an uncertainty management framework.

Clarifying the Measurement and the Role of the Behavioral Inhibition System in Alcohol Misuse

In response to conflicting reward (Behavioral Approach System [BAS]) and/or punishment cues (Fight-Flight-Freeze System [FFFS]) the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) inhibits behavior, leading to increased attention to threat, high anxiety, and behavioral ambivalence. The role of BIS in alcohol misuse is complex, as anxiety promotes self-medication drinking, while attention to threat (e.g., negative outcomes of heavy drinking) may reduce risk. Theory suggests that a concurrent strong BAS may bias BIS-conflict in favor of alcohol approach, while a concurrent strong FFFS may increase the likelihood of alcohol avoidance. However, few studies measure BIS as a conflict system, and no studies incorporate such a measure into examinations of alcohol misuse. Our study goals were to (i) test the Motivational Flanker Task (MFT) as a new laboratory measure of the BIS, BAS, and FFFS; and (ii) use the MFT, in conjunction with self-report measures, to test BAS and FFFS as moderators of the BIS-alcohol misuse relation. We hypothesized that an elevated BIS would predict heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems, but only when BAS was high. Further, we expected an elevated BIS to be associated with reduced alcohol misuse, but only when FFFS was high. Students (N = 198) completed self-reports of BIS/BAS/FFFS and drinking behavior, and 2 reaction time tasks: MFT and Point Scoring Reaction Time Task (PSRTT). The PSRTT is a published measure of the revised BIS. MFT BIS conflict was associated with self-report and PSRTT measures. MFT BAS, but not FFFS, was associated with self-reports. As expected, elevated BIS was associated with heavy drinking, but only when BAS-Drive and BAS-Fun Seeking was also high. FFFS was not supported as a moderator of the BIS-alcohol misuse association. Results support the MFT as a promising measure of the revised BIS. Considering the joint effects of BIS and BAS clarified risk for alcohol misuse.