Neural Activation for Emotional Induction: Differential Responses as a Function of Impulsivity and Reward-Sensitivity C.E.Benca 1, H.R. Collins 1, C.R. Corbly 1, Y. Jiang 2, T.H. Kelly 2, & J.E. Joseph 1 1 Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology 2 Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky Background Task Methods High sensation seeking is associated with risky behaviors and negative behavioral outcomes (Bardo et al., 1996; Roberti, 2004) High sensation seekers are more sensitive to arousal than low sensation seekers (Joseph et al., 2009; Zuckerman, 2005) However, little is known about neural systems involved in emotional reactivity among individuals varying in sensation seeking traits. Present Research Goal: Identify regions recruited by subjects who vary on key characteristics of sensation seeking for positive and negative valence pictures that are high and low in arousal. Greater activation for high-impulsive than for low-impulsive groups Bardo, M.T., Donohew, R.L., & Harrington, N.G. (1996). Psychobiology of novelty seeking and drug seeking behavior. Behavioural Brain Research, 77, 23–43. Joseph, J.E., Liu, X., Jiang, Y., Lynam, D., & Kelly, T. (2009). Neural correlates of emotional reactivity in sensation seeking. Psychological Science, 20, Roberti, J.W. (2004). A review of behavioral and biological correlates of sensation seeking. Journal of Research in Personality, 38, 256 – 279. Zuckerman, M. (2005). Psychobiology of personality. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Zuckerman, M., Kuhlman, D.M., Joireman, J., Teta, P., & Kraft, M. (1993). A comparison of three structural models of personality: The big three, the big five, and the alternative five. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 757–768. This research was supported by NICHD R01 HD052724, COBRE P20 RR CDART P50 DA00312 References Participants were classified into 4 groups based on scores from the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (Zuckerman, et al., 1993). Low reward seeking and low impulsivity (LSS), Low reward seeking, high impulsivity (Impuls), High reward seeking, low impulsivity (Reward) & High reward seeking, high impulsivity (HSS). Participants : fMRI Procedures: Siemen’s 3T Trio TR=2.5s, TE=30ms, FA=84°, mm axial slices Event-related design Stimuli were 200 IAPS pictures presented for 1 second each: 50 HAN, 50 HAP, 50 LAN, 50 LAP Low Arousal Positive (LAP) High Arousal Positive (HAP) High Arousal Negative (HAN) Low Arousal Negative (LAN) Summary The impulsivity dimension was more strongly implicated in emotional reactivity than the reward-sensitivity dimension, as assessed with the present task Although all regions showed greater activation for high arousal stimuli, valence effects also emerged – positive pictures showed more activation than negative pictures, especially for high-impulsive individuals in the anterior cingulate The anterior cingulate is involved in emotional regulation and cognitive control; individual differences in emotional reactivity in this region may be associated with dysregulated behaviors due to impulsivity. Anterior cingulate cortex is involved in emotional regulation Impulse group showed greater overall activation for high compared to low arousal pictures in bilateral amygdala & hippocampal regions Low Reward High Reward Low Impulsivity LSS: n = 19 (9F) Reward: n = 18 (9F) High Impulsivity Impulse: n = 14 (8F) HSS: n = 20 (10F) HSS have previously been shown to bilaterally activate the hippocampus (Joseph et al., 2009) Press the button when you see each picture z = 4.75, P < , 44, 16 4, 46, 16 z = 4.75, P <.0001 The left and right anterior cingulate showed an interaction between valence and impulsivity (p=.01, p =.036). 28,-10, -14 z = 4.75, P <.0001 LR In the right ACC there was an interaction between valence, impulsivity and reward (p=.029). Especially for positive pictures in left anterior cingulate [Valence x Impulsivity interaction: F(1, 67) = 7.1, p=.01] High-impulsive or high-reward sensitive subjects showed greater activation to positive pictures in right anterior cingulate [Valence x Impulsivity x Reward Sensitivity interaction: F(1. 67) = 5.0, p =.029] But no interaction with valence in right amygdala / hippocampus [Valence effect: F(1, 67) = 6.7, p=.012]