Different performance in reversal learning paradigm for low BIS and high BIS individuals: A difference in ability to form stimulus-reinforcement association

Abstract

The behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and behavioral activation system (BAS) were two general motivational systems proposed by Grey (1981). These 2 systems were hypothesized to reveal individual’s sensitivity to punishment and reward respectively. The present study examined the performance of healthy individuals with high and low BIS score in a probabilistic response reversal task. The probabilistic response reversal task, adapted from Budhani et al. (2006), used photos of facial expressions of different emotions as stimuli, including happy, sad, angry and neutral. Other measures were also employed to explore for any difference in participants’ mental health, including BDI, STAI-Y2, RSQ, NEO-FFI and SASS. Participants were asked to listen to a boring music before conducting the probabilistic response reversal task in order to calm down both the BIS and BAS systems of the participants. Their heart rate, blood pressure and affect (measured by PANAS) were assessed across the experiment. The results showed that the low BIS group was less likely to stay with their response after being rewarded in the first reversal phase. They also tended to have lower total score in the task. The results were close to the finding of performance of psychopathic adults in the study done by Budhani and colleagues (2006). The results were considered to support the integrated emotion systems (IES) model proposed by Blair (2005) and the BIS/ BAS model. Limitations of the study were discussed and further research was suggested.