title: Neural correlates of successful and partial inhibitions in children: an ERP study.
abstract: This experiment used event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate the neural processes underlying the development of response inhibition in a modified version of the go/no-go paradigm [Cragg and Nation [2008] Developmental Science 11(6): 819-827]. N2 and P3 ERP components on correct go trials and partial and successful inhibitions were compared in 7- and 9-year-old children. A larger N2 effect on successful inhibitions was found in 9-year-olds compared to 7-year-olds at fronto-central electrodes. N2 amplitude was positively related to behavioral performance in the 7-year-olds suggesting it may reflect inhibitory processes; however, this relationship was not present in the 9-year-olds. Age differences were also apparent in the go P3, perhaps indicating differences in stimulus processing. The no-go P3 component was larger on successful than partial inhibitions. In contrast, there was no difference in N2 amplitude between partial and successful inhibitions. A significant difference was found in N2 latency however. This suggests that inhibitory processes are similar in both cases but initiated earlier on successful inhibitions. N2 latency was also shorter in 9-year-olds than 7-year-olds supporting an increase in the efficiency of response inhibition with age.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. lucy.cragg@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cragg
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nation
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted