The interactive effect of the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) and response inhibition on accuracy in a modified stop-signal task

The ability to adjust to a changing environment is an important aspect of every-day life and successful goal-directed behavior requires the ability to suppress responses that are no longer appropriate. The main purpose of the present study was to examine if the relationship between inhibitory control (as indexed by stop-signal reaction time, SSRT) and behavioral precision is dependent on levels of Gray and McNaughton's Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS). Additionally, the relationship between BIS and electrodermal activity, and the Behavioral Approach System (BAS) and heart rate activity was investigated. A modified stop-signal task was used. The results showed that there was an interaction effect of BIS and SSRT on accuracy, suggesting that among individuals with higher levels of BIS, longer SSRT (i.e. poorer inhibitory ability) was associated with decreased accuracy. There were no significant correlations between trait variables and physiological variables. The results were discussed in terms of higher levels of BIS being a vulnerability factor when the individual's inhibitory ability simultaneously is poor in situations where the ability to inhibit inappropriate behavioral routines is important for task performance.