The neural basis of punishment sensitivity and cognitive reappraisal: Evidence from functional connectivity between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right precuneus.

Abstract

Punishment sensitivity refers to an individual's tendency to perceive and respond to punishment and other negative signals. Cognitive reappraisal is an emotion regulation strategy through which individuals modify their emotional responses by altering their evaluation of a situation. Previous studies have confirmed a negative correlation between punishment sensitivity and cognitive reappraisal ability; the neural mechanisms linking these two constructs remain unclear. To investigate this association, the present study integrated behavioral measurements, voxel-based morphometry (VBM), resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), and mediation analysis in a sample of 357 healthy university students. Behavioral results revealed a negative correlation between punishment sensitivity and cognitive reappraisal. VBM analysis showed that punishment sensitivity was positively associated with gray matter volume in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). RSFC analysis further demonstrated that the functional connectivity between the right dlPFC and the right precuneus was positively correlated with punishment sensitivity. Mediation analysis revealed that this functional connectivity exhibited a statistical suppression effect on the relationship between punishment sensitivity and cognitive reappraisal, as indicated by opposing directions of the direct and indirect effects. These findings suggest that dlPFC-precuneus functional connectivity may serve as a neural correlate linking punishment sensitivity to cognitive reappraisal, providing new insights into the neurobiological basis of this association.