The relationship between novelty-seeking traits and behavior: Establishing construct validity for the human Behavioral Pattern Monitor

Abstract

Novelty seeking is a tendency to approach new situations, putatively driven by the brain's catecholaminergic system. It is traditionally measured via self-report, but a laboratory-based paradigm, the human Behavioral Pattern Monitor (hBPM), quantifies behavior in a novel environment and has utility in cross-species studies of neuropsychiatric disorders. Our primary aim assessed whether self-reported novelty-seeking traits were associated with novelty-seeking behavior in the hBPM. An existing sample of 106 volunteers were categorized as high vs. low novelty seekers using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Subjects had been randomized to one dose of amphetamine (10 or 20 mg) or modafinil (200 or 400 mg), allowing us to explore whether a pharmacological catecholamine challenge further enhanced novelty-seeking behavior. High TCI novelty-seekers had more hBPM motor activity and novel object interactions. The exploratory analyses, although limited by low power, suggested that amphetamine and modafinil did not markedly moderate novelty-seeking traits. The hBPM demonstrates construct validity as a lab-based measure of novelty seeking and thus useful in translational studies of neuropsychiatric conditions and treatment options. Further research may illuminate whether a biological predisposition towards higher catecholaminergic activity, combined with the novelty-seeking trait, may increase propensity for risky and addictive behaviors.

Keywords: Amphetamine; Exploration; Modafinil; Motor activity; Temperament and character inventory.

Figure 1.

The human Behavioral Pattern Monitor (hBPM)

Figure 2.

Participant Flow Diagram.

Figure 3.

Higher novelty-seeking scores on the TCI are associated with higher motor activity in the hBPM as measured by acceleration (Fig 3a) and higher number of hBPM novel object interactions (Fig 3b).

Figure 4.

Novelty seeking on the TCI is not strongly associated with catecholamine agonist drug effects in the hBPM as measured by acceleration (Figure 4a) and number of hBPM novel object interactions (Figure 4b). Figure legend: # High novelty-seekers > low novelty-seekers, p < .10.

Figure 5.

Scatterplot of correlation between TCI novelty-seeking score and motor activity in the hBPM as measured by acceleration (Fig 5A), and TCI novelty-seeking score and hBPM novel object interactions (Fig 5B).

Figure 5.

Scatterplot of correlation between TCI novelty-seeking score and motor activity in the hBPM as measured by acceleration (Fig 5A), and TCI novelty-seeking score and hBPM novel object interactions (Fig 5B).