The role of the inferior frontal gyrus in motivational inhibition during an approach avoidance conflict : ǂb a low frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation study
Date
2023
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Everyday humans act on decisions which are motivated by drives to “approach” positive outcomes or “avoid” negative outcomes. A motivational approach-avoidance conflict (AAC) arises when an individual encounters a stimuli or decision which can lead to both rewarding and threating outcomes. The right lateralized inferior frontal gyrus has been previously associated with inhibitory control during motivational conflict decision making; however, much of the previous literature neglects to account for variability in individual differences, motivational models, and conflict tasks. The current study employed low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to transiently inhibit prefrontal function directly at the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and examine its causal role on two separate approach avoidance conflict tasks. The current study utilizes behavioral and personality questionnaires to specifically assess individual differences related to motivational tendencies and impulsivity. While no significant behavior changes alone where found from stimulation to either the left or right IFG, individual differences in impulsivity interacted with hemispheric stimulation and right IFG inhibition to predict greater impulsive behavior. The result of this study shows that the right IFG acts as an inhibitory mechanism and that individual differences in impulsivity can influence approach behavior for individuals with deficits in inhibitory control. These findings can help inform models of impulsivity and personality by revealing the importance of the right IFG as a neural substrate of motivational inhibition and by demonstrating how individual differences in impulsivity can impact motivational control.
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Keywords
Approach-avoidance conflict, Decision making, Impulsivity, Inferior frontal gyrus, Motivation, Transcranial magnetic stimulation