# Multi-level analysis of affective inhibitory control

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · 2020 · $45,520

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Extant research has demonstrated associations between early life adversity, deficits in inhibitory control and an
increased likelihood to engage in risky behaviors. This increased engagement contributes to a myriad of public
health and societal problems, including risk for future psychopathology, legal problems, and premature death.
Although early adversity has been identified as a critical environmental risk factor, less is understood about
how different forms of adversity may confer risk for later problematic behaviors. Recent theories suggest that
early life adversity may lead to distinct alterations in reward- and threat-based neural circuitry that influence
inhibitory control and may compromise self-regulation. These alterations, in turn, are theorized to influence
individuals' motivational tendencies to approach reward and avoid threat. Given the multi-faceted nature of
inhibitory control, there is a need for integrated models that span multiple units of analyses to understand how
a confluence of factors promotes engagement in risky behaviors. The objective of the proposed research is
to elucidate the relationship between early life adversity (e.g. neglect, abuse) and adult risk-taking behaviors by
investigating how state (rewarding and stressful contexts) and trait (approach and avoidance motivations)
indices of Positive and Negative Valence Systems contribute to risky behavior using the NIMH Research
Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework. The proposed research will use self-report and neuroimaging data
collected from a diverse sample of community adults (N=100). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
data were collected during Go/No-Go tasks that induced positive and negative affective states (e.g. appetitive
cues, negative mood). It is hypothesized that early childhood adversity characterized by deprivation would be
associated with blunted activation in reward-processing brain regions and a tendency to engage in impulsive
behavior to satisfy approach motivations (Aim 1), whereas childhood adversity characterized by threat would
be related to heightened activation in threat-processing brain regions and a tendency to engage in impulsive
behavior to satisfy avoidance motivations (Aim 2). Finally, we will examine putative interactive pathways
whereby early life adversity impacts risk-taking behaviors through both valence systems (Aim 3). This research
approach is consistent with the NIMH initiative to identify neural systems underlying complex human behaviors.
The ultimate goal of this research is to inform future prevention and intervention efforts that target individuals
who engage in risk-taking behaviors. This F31 application will provide opportunities for the applicant's training
in three critical areas: (1) knowledge of the neurobiological effects of early life adversity, (2) fMRI research
methods, and (3) RDoC conceptualization skills. The institutional environment and mentoring structure
embedded in this app...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10020772
- **Project number:** 5F31MH120936-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- **Principal Investigator:** Rabea-Nadia Bounoua
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $45,520
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-16 → 2022-09-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10020772

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10020772, Multi-level analysis of affective inhibitory control (5F31MH120936-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10020772. Licensed CC0.

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