Effects of sensation seeking on habituation to novelty: An EEG study. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jiang, Xintong; Mei, Shuting; Yi, Wei; Zheng, Ya
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychologia. Volume 129(2019)
• Page Start: 133
• Page End: 140
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Sensation seeking -- Habituation -- Orienting response -- Novelty P3 -- Midfrontal theta; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.03.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3932

Abstract

Abstract: Sensation seeking is characterized by a strong need for novelty and has been associated with various risk-taking behaviors. Using the extreme between-group design, the current study investigated the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying habituation to novelty processing in sensation seeking. Twenty high sensation seekers (HSS) and 20 low sensation seekers (LSS) performed an auditory oddball task while their EEG was recorded. The results revealed that both the novelty P3 and midfrontal theta power decreased from the first to the second half for LSS but not for HSS. Additionally, this reduced vigilance was predicted by the experience-seeking subcomponent of sensation seeking. Together, our findings are supportive of an abnormal habituation to novel events in the sensation-seeking trait. Highlights: We tested habituation to novelty in sensation seeking with novelty P3 and theta. Sensation seeking was associated with a lack of habituation to novel events. The absence of habituation was driven by a reduced vigilance in the first half. Our findings are supportive of a hypoactive avoidance system in sensation seeking.