title: Frontolimbic activity in a frustrating task: covariation between patterns of coping and individual differences in externalizing and internalizing symptoms.
abstract: Many problem behaviors in youth have been attributed to maladaptive self-regulation in response to frustration. Frontolimbic networks that promote flexible as well as over- and undercontrolled regulation could provide evidence linking cortical mechanisms of self-regulation to the development of internalizing or externalizing symptomology. Specifically, ineffective dorsally mediated inhibitory control may be associated with rule-breaking and substance use behaviors, whereas overengagement of ventral limbic systems responsible for self-monitoring of errors may increase risk of developing anxious and depressed symptomology. In this study, a sample of 9- to 13-year-old children were presented with an emotional go/no-go task. Event-related potentials were used to identify differences in cortical mechanisms related to inhibitory control (indexed with the stimulus-locked medial frontal negativity) and self-monitoring (indexed with the error-related negativity). These measurements were then related to externalizing and internalizing behaviors. As predicted, externalizing problems were associated with smaller medial frontal negativity amplitudes, which indicate undercontrolled self-regulation and poor dorsal mediation of actions. Internalizing symptoms were related to larger error-related negativity amplitudes, demonstrating overregulation and overengagement of ventral limbic systems. These findings suggest that the use of event-related potential methodology with paradigms that elicit cognition-emotion can provide insight into the neural mechanisms of regulatory deficits that result in problem behaviors in youth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, 1227, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. imoadab@uoregon.edu
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moadab
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Dishion
authors.forename: Don M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tucker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D005639:Frustration; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008032:Limbic System / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests