Study of Retrospective, Prospective memory and cognitive ability according to the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality: Behavior Approach and Behavioral inhibition

The aim of the present study was to investigate prospective and retrospective memory and cognitive ability in three groups of personality based on reinforcement sensitivity theory. For this purpose, first, 358 students Bu Ali Sina university were selected through a multistage cluster sampling. Then Brain / behavioral Systems questionnaire were distributed among them to be answered. After initial data analysis, 51 of them, based on cluster analysis in Brain / behavioral Systems questionnaire were selected, in order to test the hypothesis of this study, participants were studied in dimensions of prospective and retrospective memory and cognitive ability. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive indicators, multivariate analysis of variance and post hoc tests. Results showed significant difference between three personality groups in memory and cognitive ability. So that, group with high behavioral inhibition system sensitivity have better performance in components of retrospective memory, prospective memory, general memory and ability of naming; group with high sensitivity of fight-flight-freeze system have higher scores in prospective memory and general memory. The results showed that more active and less active of brain/ behavioral systems may be in close relation with memory and other cognitive abilities. It seems that cognitive abilities can to be influenced by the brain systems associated with reinforcement sensitivity and thereby cognitive functions changed.