Faulty brakes?

Abstract

Inhibitory mechanisms are central to normal cerebral cortical function. Indeed, the Nobel laureate Georg Von Bekesy suggested that one of the greatest challenges presented by the complex functional repertoire of the human cerebral cortex is the need for inhibition of potentially competing processes.1 While Von Bekesy highlighted the importance of lateral (or surround) inhibition in sensory systems, the importance of surround inhibition is also well-established in the motor system.2,3 Whether surround inhibition plays a role in more complex behavioral and cognitive processes has been controversial,4 in part because of the greater difficulty of directly testing neurophysiologic mechanisms in these functions. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by difficulty with various aspects of executive function. Clinically, this manifests as impaired attention and concentration, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, or a combination.5 Difficulty maintaining focus …