In conclusion, HSSs and LSSs showed clear differences in brain response to high-arousal stimuli. The brain regions activated more strongly by HSSs are often associated with autonomic arousal. In contrast, the brain regions activated more strongly and more readily by LSSs are associated with emotional regulation and showed negative correlations with urgency, a personality dimension associated with emotional dysregulation. LSSs were also more sensitive to valence of the stimuli than were HSSs. Given that sensation seeking, as originally described by Zuckerman (1994), is composed of two distinct dimensions—one involving the degree of activation-approach and the other involving a lack of inhibition—future research should attempt to separate these aspects. Nevertheless, the present results may help to elucidate the processes by which sensation seeking leads to various negative behavioral outcomes, including substance use, risky sex, and antisocial behavior. Individuals high in sensation seeking not only are strongly activated by exciting, thrilling, and potentially dangerous activities, but also may be less likely than other people to inhibit or appropriately regulate that activation.
