The development of stop-signal and Go/Nogo response inhibition in children aged 7-12 years: performance and event-related potential indices.

Full Abstract

The present study examined the development of response inhibition during the Stop-signal and Go/Nogo tasks in children using performance and ERP measures. Twenty-four children aged 7 to 12 years completed both tasks, each with an auditory Nogo/Stop-signal presented on 30% of trials. On average, response inhibition was more difficult in the Stop-signal than Go/Nogo task. Response inhibition performance did not develop significantly across the age range, while response execution varied significantly in a task dependent manner (Go/Nogo:
increasing accuracy and reducing response variability with age; Stop-signal:
reducing Go mean reaction time and response variability with age). The N1, P2, N2 and P3 components showed different scalp distributions, with N1 and P2 peaking earlier, and P3 later, in Nogo compared to Stop stimuli. N2 and P3 amplitude were positively correlated with successful inhibition probability in the Go/Nogo task only. N2 amplitude and latency to both Nogo and successful Stop stimuli decreased linearly with age, but not in the frontal regions. N1 and P3 amplitude in the parietal region increased with age for Stop-signals. An age-related reduction in P3 latency to Nogo stimuli correlated significantly with reduced RT and variability in Go responding, indicating a relationship between efficient Nogo and Go processing. Together the behavioural and ERP results suggest little development of the response inhibition process as measured via the Stop-signal and Go/Nogo tasks across the 7 to 12 year age range, while response execution processes develop substantially.

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Author information

Author/s: Johnstone, Stuart J (SJ); Dimoska, Aneta (A); Smith, Janette L (JL); Barry, Robert J (RJ); Pleffer, Carly B (CB); Chiswick, Dale (D); Clarke, Adam R (AR);

Affiliation: Brain & Behaviour Research Institute and School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. stuart_johnstone(-atsign-)uow.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology (Int J Psychophysiol), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jan; vol 63 (issue 1) : pp 25-38

Dates: Created 2007/01/08; Completed 2007/03/21;

PMID: 16919346, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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.

Acoustic Stimulation - methods
Age Factors
Analysis of Variance
Brain Mapping
Child
Child Development - physiology
Choice Behavior - physiology
Electroencephalography - methods

Evoked Potentials, Auditory - physiology
Female
Humans
Inhibition (Psychology)
Linear Models
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Reaction Time - physiology

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