Neurofunctional correlates of behavioral inhibition system sensitivity during attentional control are modulated by perceptual load

•Examined neural correlates of cognitive control over conflict and BIS sensitivity.•Interaction of BIS sensitivity and perceptual load on dlPFC and dACC activation.•No differences between low and high BIS individuals under high perceptual load.•High BIS individuals had more frontal activation to threat under low load.•Relationships held with continuous and categorical conceptualization of BIS.

Although the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) is associated with threat-sensitivity, little is known about its neurofunctional correlates during cognitive control over task-irrelevant threat distractors. Thirty non-clinical participants, who ranged in BIS sensitivity, completed an attentional control paradigm during fMRI. The paradigm varied in cognitive demand with low perceptual load comprising identical target letters and high perceptual load comprising a target letter in a mixed letter string; each superimposed on threatening and neutral face distractors. Whole-brain results indicated that individuals with higher, relative to lower BIS sensitivity, exhibited enhanced dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation to angry (vs. neutral) and enhanced dorsal anterior cingulate cortex activation to fearful (vs. neutral) face distractors under low load whereas no differences in activation were observed under high load. These findings are consistent with literature indicating that the BIS is involved in conflict processing, including between cognitive and emotional or motivational goals.