Serotonergic neural network related to behavioral inhibition system
Rationale The tendency to avoid punishment, called behavioral inhibition system (BIS), is an essential aspect of motivational behavior. BIS is related to negative affect, such as anxiety, depression and pain, but its neural basis has not yet been clarified. Objectives To clarify the association between individual variations in BIS and brain 5- HT 2A receptor availability and specify which brain networks were involved in healthy male subjects, using [ 18 F]altanserin positron emission tomography (PET) and resting- state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Result s BIS score negatively correlated with 5-HT 2A receptor availability in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). A statistical model indicated that the BIS score was associated with 5-HT 2A receptor availability, which was mediated by the functional connectivity between ACC and left middle frontal gyrus, both of which involved in the cognitive control of negative information processing. Conclusions Individuals with high BIS displays low 5-HT 2A receptor availability in ACC and this cognitive control network links with prefrontal- cingulate integrity. These findings have implications for underlying the serotonergic basis of physiologies in aversion.