The mechanism of inhibitory control in sensation seeking:an event-related potential study

Abstract

Objective To investigate the neural mechanism of inhibitory control in sensation seeking by using the event-related potential(ERP) technique. Methods High and low sensation seekers( 16 people in each group ), who were selected according to their sensation seeking scores, performed a Go/Nogo task in which the stimuli possessed two levels of difficulty. Electro- encephalogram(EEG) signals were recorded continuously by a set of 32 Ag/AgCI electrodes. Results For two types of stimuli ( Congruent, Incongruent) :( 1 )The amplitude(FCZ) of Nogo N2 and Nogo P3 were( (1.61 ±4.25)μV,(-2.32±4.55)μV)and((16.44±5.74)μV,(17.00±5.71)μV). (2)There was no significant main effects of group for the Nogo N2 amplitude( F (1.30) =0.31, P=0. 59,η2=0. 01;F(1.30) =0.07,P=0.80,η2=0.002) ,the N2d amplitude( F(1.30) =1.18,P=0.29,η2=0.04;F(1.30) =0.004, P=0.95, η2 ＜ 0.001 ) ,the Nogo P3 amplitude( F (1.30) =0.13, P=0.72, η2 =0.004;F(1.30)=0.28, P=0.60, η2 =0.009) and the P3d amplitude( F(1.30) =0.08, P=0.50, η2 =0.02; F (1.30) =0.56,P=0.46, η2 =0.02). (3)Neither of main effects for the N2 and P3 latency was significant (P＞0.05). Conclusion The inhibitory control is similar across high and low sensation seeking groups,indicating that there is no relationship between the sensation seeking behaviors and the individual inhibitory control. Key words: Sensation seeking; Inhibitory control; Event-related potential