Physiological response to reward and extinction predicts alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use two years later.
Physiological responses to reward and extinction are believed to represent the behavioral activation system (BAS) and behavioral inhibition system (BIS) constructs of Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and underlie externalizing behaviors, including substance use. However, little research has examined these relations directly.



We assessed individuals' cardiac pre-ejection periods (PEP) and electrodermal responses (EDR) during reward and extinction trials through the "number elimination game" paradigm. Responses represented BAS and BIS, respectively. We then examined whether these responses provided incremental utility in the prediction of future alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use.



Zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) regression models were used to examine the predictive utility of physiological BAS and BIS responses above and beyond previous substance use. Physiological responses accounted for incremental variance over previous use. Low BAS responses during reward predicted frequency of alcohol use at year 3. Low BAS responses during reward and extinction and high BIS responses during extinction predicted frequency of marijuana use at year 3. For cigarette use, low BAS response during extinction predicted use at year 3.



These findings suggest that the constructs of Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, as assessed through physiology, contribute to the longitudinal maintenance of substance use.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Center for Population Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 North Pauline Street, Suite 462, Memphis, TN 38163-2181, United States. Electronic address: kderefin@uthsc.edu.
Karen J
KJ
Derefinko
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, United States.
Tory A
TA
Eisenlohr-Moul
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 115 Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
Jessica R
JR
Peters
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 115 Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States.
Walter
W
Roberts
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB# 7200, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7200, United States.
Erin C
EC
Walsh
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 115 Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044, United States.
Richard
R
Milich
Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, 703 Third Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2081, United States.
Donald R
DR
Lynam
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012201:Reward; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
EDR; Physiology; Pre-ejection period; RST; Substance use