Executive control in obsessive-compulsive disorder: event-related potentials in a Go/Nogo task.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been related to a hyperactive cortico-striatal-pallidal-thalamic circuitry resulting clinically in an impaired inhibition of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. We examined thirteen patients with OCD and thirteen age-, sex-, and education matched healthy controls using event-related potentials (ERPs). Participants performed a hybrid flanker-Go/Nogo task while multichannel EEG was recorded. Our study focused on two ERP components: the Nogo-N2 and the Nogo-P3, which have been discussed in the context of response inhibition and response conflict. Artifact-free EEG-segments were used to compute ERPs on correct Go trials (button press) and correct Nogo trials (no button press), separately. Patients with OCD showed enhanced (more negative) Nogo-N2 amplitudes than controls, and a significant difference in amplitudes between Nogo-N2 and Go-N2 trials (more negative for Nogo trials) at central midline electrode positions. However, groups did not differ with regard to the Nogo-P3 and Go-P3. The present study replicates and extends previous findings of altered executive control processes in OCD patients.
Ruchsow
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, Christophsbad, Göppingen, Germany. martin.ruchsow@christophsbad.de
Reuter
K
K
Hermle
L
L
Ebert
D
D
Kiefer
M
M
Falkenstein
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology