Citation

Bekker EM, Kenemans JL, Hoeksma MR, Talsma D, Verbaten MN. Int. J. Psychophysiol. 2005; 55(2): 191-198.

Affiliation

Department of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht University, Sorbonnelaan 16, P.O. Box 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands. E.M.Bekker@pharm.uu.nl

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2004.07.005

PMID

15649550

Abstract

In the stop-signal task, subjects should withhold their response in a choice reaction time task when a stop-signal, usually a tone, is presented. Successful stops have been associated with event-related potentials (ERPs) featuring a larger frontocentral positivity relative to failed stops. The functional interpretation of this stop-P3 has been disputed, because stop-ERPs are distorted by overlap from ERPs elicited by preceding go-stimuli. We effectively removed confounding potentials with the 'adjacent response filter method (ADJAR)'. Confirming an interpretation in terms of response inhibition, the stop-P3 remained and overlap removal resulted in a more anterior distribution. As a new finding, the N1 was larger on trials with successful stops, which suggests that inhibitory performance at least partly depended on the ability to switch attention to the stop-signal. Finally, the parietal P3 tended to peak earlier for successful than for failed stops. This is in line with the Horse Race Model, which states that faster stop-processes have a higher chance of winning the race against the go-process.

Language: en