The behavioral approach system and augmenting/reducing in auditory event-related potentials during emotional visual stimulation

In the recent Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ, Corr and Cooper, 2016)the behavioral approach system (BAS) has been conceptualized as multidimensional in which facets ofreward interest and reactivity, and goal-drive persistence, are separate from impulsivity. Aim of thepresent work was to highlight the predictive power of BAS and its facets in differentiating electrocorticalresponses by using an auditory augmenting/reducing event-related potential (ERP) paradigm duringemotional visual stimulation. ERPs were recorded for 5 levels of intensity in 39 women. The RST-PQwas used to measure the total BAS (T-BAS) and its four facets of Goal-Drive Persistence (GDP), RewardInterest (RI), Reward Reactivity (RR), and Impulsivity (IMP). T-BAS and RI, and to a less extent GDP andRR, were significantly associated with higher N1/P2 amplitudes at central sites (C3, Cz, C4) across neutral,positive and negative slides. Similar, but less pronounced relations were found for GDP and RR, but thisrelation was lacking for Imp facet. In addition, N1/P2 slope at central sites was positively correlated withT-BAS, GDP, RI, RR, but not Imp. Indeed, T-BAS facets failed to maintain a significant correlation withN1/P2 slope, after controlling for T-BAS residual scores, indicating that T-BAS drives these significantcorrelations. LORETA analysis at 219 ms (P2 wave) from tone onset revealed a significant activation of theright inferior parietal lobule (IPL, BA40) and left anterior cingulate gyrus (BA32) in high T-BAS comparedto low T-BAS participants. Results are discussed within a revised RST framework differentiating rewardcomponents from impulsivity