Research article summary (published 29 Jun 2005):

Error processing and impulsiveness in normals: evidence from event-related potentials.

Full Abstract

Electrophysiological correlates of impulsiveness were investigated in thirty-two healthy subjects using event-related potentials (ERP). Impulsiveness was determined by calculating individual reaction times (as a function of general response speed) in order to split the entire group into two subgroups with a more controlled (n = 16) and less controlled (n = 16) response style. Participants performed a Go/Nogo task while a 64 channel EEG was recorded. Artifact-free EEG segments were used to compute ERPs on correct Go trials and incorrect Nogo trials, separately. Three ERP components were of special interest: the error-related negativity (ERN)/error negativity (Ne) and the "early" error positivity (Pe) reflecting automatic error processing and the "late" error positivity (Pe) which is thought to mirror the awareness of erroneous responses. Subjects with higher impulsiveness showed smaller amplitudes than subjects with lower impulsiveness for the ERN/Ne component and the "early" Pe component. With regard to the "late" Pe groups did not differ. Hence, ERP measures appear suitable for detailed analyses of impulsiveness in healthy participants. Moreover, present results argue for the necessity of careful control of impulsiveness when including normal comparison groups in the context of clinical studies.

Author information

Author/s: Ruchsow, Martin (M); Spitzer, Manfred (M); Grön, Georg (G); Grothe, Jo (J); Kiefer, Markus (M);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 12-14, D-89075 Ulm, Germany. martin.ruchsow(-atsign-)medizin.uni-ulm.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: Brain research. Cognitive brain research (Brain Res Cogn Brain Res), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Jul; vol 24 (issue 2) : pp 317-25

Dates: Created 2005/07/04; Completed 2005/08/30; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 15993769, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Aged Brain Mapping Electroencephalography - methods Evoked Potentials - physiology Female Humans Male

Male Mental Processes - physiology Middle Aged Parietal Lobe - anatomy & histology; physiology Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology Photic Stimulation - methods Psychomotor Performance - physiology Reaction Time - physiology

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