Personality Predicts Working Memory Related Activation in Caudal Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Behavioral studies suggest that two affective dimensions of personality are associated with working memory (WM) function. WM load is known to modulate neural activity in caudal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a brain region critical for the cognitive control of behavior. On this basis, we hypothesized that neural activity in caudal ACC during a WM task should be associated with personality: negatively with behavioral approach sensitivity (BAS), and positively with behavioral inhibition sensitivity (BIS). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured brain activity in 14 participants performing a 3-back WM task. Higher selfreported BAS predicted better WM performance (r=.27) and lower WMrelated activation in caudal ACC (r=-.84), suggesting personality differences in cognitive control. The results bolster approach-withdrawal (action control) theories of personality, and suggest refinements to the dominant views of ACC and personality.