Neural correlates of stopping and self-reported impulsivity.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation between self-reported impulsivity, inhibitory control, and the neural correlates of stopping performance within the normal population.


METHODS
Healthy individuals scoring high and low on trait impulsivity performed an auditory stop-signal task. Stopping performance and neural correlates of stopping (i.e. N1 and stop P3) were compared between the impulsive groups as well as between participants who were slow and fast in stopping.


RESULTS
As expected, N1 and stop P3 were larger for successful relative to failed stops (i.e. N1 and stop P3 effects). Participants scoring high relative to low on impulsivity showed equal stopping performance, had larger stop P3, but similar N1 effects. Slow as compared to fast stoppers had reduced stop P3, but similar N1 effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Participants scoring high relative to low on impulsivity may need more effortful inhibitory control to yield equal stopping performance. Slow relative to fast stoppers may have weaker inhibition processes and abnormal error processing. In contrast to ADHD, both high impulsives as well as slow stoppers had an intact N1 effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Subjective impulsivity and slow stopping in healthy individuals cannot be generalized to ADHD.
Lansbergen
Marieke M
MM
Department of Experimental Psychology, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS Utrecht, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. M.Lansbergen@fss.uu.nl
Böcker
Koen B E
KB
Bekker
Evelijne M
EM
Kenemans
J Leon
JL
D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004585:Electrooculography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors