The relationship between impulsiveness subtraits, trait anxiety, and visual N100 augmenting/reducing: A topographic analysis

Abstract

The relationship between impulsiveness subtraits assessed by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-10), the trait anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), and the topographic distribution of visual N100 augmenting/reducing (AR) was examined. Topographic event-related potential (ERP) data were collected from an array of 14 electrodes covering the left side of the head while subjects counted the total number of light flashes presented at two different but equiprobable intensities. Principal components analysis of the ERP data yielded a factor accounting for 13.9% of the total variance around the grand mean waveform that corresponded to the N100 wave clearly visible in the raw waveforms. For each subject by scalp locus combination, an AR score was computed by subtracting the factor score associated with the bright flashes from the factor score associated with the dim flashes. The correlations between AR scores and scores on the BIS-10 cognitive impulsiveness subscale were significant ( P < 0.01) at all scalp loci with the exception of the extreme frontal and occipital poles. Correlations with the BIS-10 motor impulsiveness subscale had a similar scalp distribution. Correlations with the BIS-10 non-planning impulsiveness subscale were significant over the frontal third of the scalp, including the frontal pole. Trait anxiety was not significantly related at the 0.01 level to AR scores. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.