Stop-signal Reaction Time Research Articles

Dose Motor Inhibition Response Training Using Stop-signal Paradigm Influence Execution and Stop Performance?

Purpose: This study examined whether 1) the motor inhibition response as cognitive-behavioral component is learning though a stop signal task using stop-signal paradigm, and 2) whether there is a difference in the learning degree according to imagery training and ac tual practice training. Methods: Twenty young adults (males: 9, females: 11) volunteered to participate in this study, and were divided randomly into motor imagery training (IT, n=10) and practice training (PT, n=10) groups. The PT group performed an actual practice stop-signal task, while the IT group performed imagery training, which showed a stop-signal task on a monitor of a personal computer. The non-signal reaction time and stop-signal reaction time of both groups were assessed during the stop-signal task. Results: In the non-signal reaction time, there were no significant intra-group and inter-group differences between pre- and post-inter vention in both groups (p>0.05). The stop-signal reaction time showed a significant difference in the PT group in the intra-group analy sis (p 0.05). Conclusion: These results showed that the motor inhibition response could be learned through a stop-signal task. Moreover, these find ings suggest that actual practice is a more effective method for learning the motor inhibition response.

Allometrically scaled explosive strength, but not static strength or maximal oxygen uptake is associated with better central processing time in young males.

We aimed to examine the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), static strength and explosive strength with cognitive functions in young males. Eighty-six young males (age 16-24 years) participated in the study and took part in a number of tests including: static strength (grip strength test), explosive strength (Sargent jump test), and CRF (via direct measure of maximal oxygen uptake [VO2max]). Static strength and explosive strength were scaled by allometrically modeled skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and height while VO2max was scaled by SMM and body mass (BM). Cognition was assessed by inhibitory control, simple and choice reaction time tasks using computerized Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB). Central processing time was measured by surface electromyography changes in isometric contraction response to an audio stimulus. VO2max scaled by BM (but not SMM), was associated with better central processing time and stop-signal reaction time (SSRT). Explosive strength was also associated with better central processing time independent of VO2max. However, static strength was not associated with cognition. The results suggest that explosive strength is a better predictor of central processing than static strength or VO2max in young males. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine whether explosive strength training in youth would improve central processing time.

Observational Study of Clinician Attentional Reserves (OSCAR): Acuity-Based Rounds Help Preserve Clinicians' Attention.

Team rounding in the ICU can tax clinicians' finite attentional resources. We hypothesized that a novel approach to rounding, where patients are seen in a decreasing order of acuity, would decrease attentional attrition. Prospective interventional internal-control cohort study in which stop signal task testing was used as a proxy for attentional reserves. Stop signal task is a measure of cognitive control and response inhibition in addition to performance monitoring, all reflective of executive control abilities, and our surrogate for attentional reserves. The ICUs of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (site 1) and the University of Pennsylvania (site 2) from November 2014 to August 2017. Thirty-three clinicians at site 1, and 24 clinicians at site 2. Acuity-based rounding, in which clinicians round from highest to lowest acuity as determined by Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score or an equivalent acuity score. The stop signal task results of ICU staff at two sites were compared for conventional (in room order) versus novel (in decreasing order of acuity) rounding order. At site 1, the difference in stop signal reaction time change between two rounding types was -39.0 ms (95% CI, -50.6 to -27.4 ms; p < 0.001), and at site 2, the performance stop signal reaction time was -15.6 ms (95% CI, -29.1 to -2.1 ms; p = 0.023). These sub-second changes, while small, are significant in the neuroscience domain. Rounding in decreasing order of patient acuity mitigated attrition in attentional reserves when compared with the traditional rounding method.

Network Centrality Reveals Dissociable Brain Activity during Response Inhibition in Human Right Ventral Part of Inferior Frontal Cortex

The human right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) plays a critical role in response inhibition. It has also been demonstrated that the IFC is heterogeneous and that the ventral part of the IFC (vIFC) is more critical to inhibition of prepotent response tendency. Recent areal parcellation analyses based on resting-state functional connectivity have revealed that the right vIFC consists of multiple functional areas. In the present study, we characterized the parcellated areas (parcels) in the right vIFC using graph theory analysis, which characterizes local connectivity properties of a brain network by referring to its global structure of functional connectivity. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained during performance of a stop-signal task and during resting state. The cerebral cortex was parcellated into areas using resting-state functional connectivity. The parcels were then subjected to graph theory analysis to reveal central areas. Two parcels, ventral and dorsal, in the posterior part of the vIFC, exhibited significant brain activity during response inhibition. The ventral parcel exhibited a positive correlation between betweenness centrality and brain activity while the dorsal parcel did not. Correlations were significantly stronger in the ventral parcel. Moreover, the ventral parcel exhibited a negative correlation between brain activity during response inhibition and stop-signal reaction time (SSRT), a behavioral measure used to evaluate stopping performance. These dissociation results suggest that the ventral region in the vIFC plays a more central role in the brain network by increasing brain activity, which may further predict better performance of response inhibition.

Prefrontal-Subthalamic Hyperdirect Pathway Modulates Movement Inhibition in Humans

The ability to dynamically change motor outputs, such as stopping an initiated response, is an important aspect of human behavior. A hyperdirect pathway between the inferior frontal gyrus and subthalamic nucleus is hypothesized to mediate movement inhibition, but there is limited evidence for this in humans. We recorded high spatial and temporal resolution field potentials from both the inferior frontal gyrus and subthalamic nucleus in 21 subjects. Cortical potentials evoked by subthalamic stimulation revealed short latency events indicative of monosynaptic connectivity between the inferior frontal gyrus and ventral subthalamic nucleus. During a stop signal task, stopping-related potentials in the cortex preceded stopping-related activity in the subthalamic nucleus, and synchronization between these task-evoked potentials predicted the stop signal reaction time. Thus, we show that a prefrontal-subthalamic hyperdirect pathway is present in humans and mediates rapid stopping. These findings may inform therapies to treat disorders featuring perturbed movement inhibition.

The rise and fall of executive functions in high-level football players

IntroductionExecutive functions are higher-level cognitive functions. Despite being relevant to many aspects of everyday life, it is contentious whether executive functions are important for high performing athletes. Executive functions increase throughout the career of an athlete, yet it remains unknown what are the main contributors. Therefore, this study examined the effect of age and experience on executive functions in a cohort of high performing football players. MethodsData were collected over three seasons, resulting in a mixed longitudinal sample of 1018 observations in 343 male players (1–5 observations/player, age: 10.34–34.72 years; playing experience: 5–22 years) from the U12-Senior age groups of a professional German football club. Players participated in four cognitive tasks aimed at measuring higher-level cognitive functioning: a precued choice reaction-time task, a stop-signal reaction-time task, a sustained attention task, and a multiple-object tracking task, from which a total of eight dependent variables related to response time and/or accuracy were derived. ResultsLinear and non-linear mixed effects regressions were used to investigate the relationship between age, experience and executive functions. A second order polynomial revealed that, generally, a negatively accelerated curve best described the relationship between age, experience and executive functions. An increasingly smaller difference in executive functioning was generally observed between subsequent age groups, with a performance plateau evident around adulthood (~21 years old). Age and experience only explained a very low to moderate proportion of the variance in executive functions (marginal explained variance ranged between 2 and 57%). A significant age by field position interaction effect was only observed for the sustained attention task’s accuracy and response time components (p < 0.001). ConclusionsBoth age and experience showed a negatively accelerated relationship with executive functions in youth football players, and this relationship was generally field position-independent. These negatively accelerated curves seem to reflect those observed in general populations, where a plateau phase in the development of higher-level cognitive functioning is also observed around 21 years, reflecting the maturation of the central nervous system in normally developing individuals. Therefore, this study challenges the assumption surrounding the use and validity of executive functions as a measure of football performance potential in high performing athletes.

BOLD differences normally attributed to inhibitory control predict symptoms, not task-directed inhibitory control in ADHD

BackgroundAltered brain activity that has been observed in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while performing cognitive control tasks like the stop signal task (SST) has generally been interpreted as reflecting either weak (under-active) or compensatory (over-active) versions of the same functions as in healthy controls. If so, then regional activities that correlate with the efficiency of inhibitory control (i.e. stop signal reaction time, SSRT) in healthy subjects should also correlate with SSRT in ADHD. Here we test the alternate hypothesis that BOLD (blood-oxygen-level-dependent) differences might instead reflect the redirection of neural processing resources normally used for task-directed inhibitory control, towards actively managing symptomatic behaviour. If so, then activities that correlate with SSRT in TD should instead correlate with inattentive and hyperactive symptoms in ADHD.MethodsWe used fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) in 14 typically developing (TD) and 14 ADHD adolescents performing the SST, and in a replication sample of 14 healthy adults. First, we identified significant group BOLD differences during all phases of activity in the SST (i.e. warning, response, reactive inhibition, error detection and post-error slowing). Next, we correlated these phases of activity with SSRT in TD and with SSRT, inattentive and hyperactive symptom scores in ADHD. We then identified whole brain significant correlations in regions of significant group difference in activity.ResultsOnly three regions of significant group difference were correlated with SSRT in TD and replication groups (left and right inferior frontal gyri (IFG) during error detection and hypothalamus during post-error slowing). Consistent with regions of altered activity managing symptomatic behaviour instead of task-directed behaviour, left IFG correlated with greater inattentive score, right IFG correlated with lower hyperactive score and hypothalamus correlated with greater inattentive score and oppositely correlated with SSRT compared to TD.ConclusionsStimuli that elicit task-directed integration of neural processing in healthy subjects instead appear to be directing integrated function towards managing symptomatic behaviour in ADHD. The ability of the current approach to determine whether altered neural activities reflect comparable functions in ADHD and control groups has broad implications for the development and monitoring of therapeutic interventions.

Loss in grey matter in a small network of brain areas underpins poor reactive inhibition in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder patients

Reactive inhibition correlates with the severity of symptoms in paediatric patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) though not in those with Tourette syndrome (TS). Here we assessed whether structural alterations in both grey (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes correlate with a measure of reactive inhibition, i.e. the stop-signal reaction time (SSRT), and with clinical scale scores. Nine OCD and 11 TS uncomplicated drug-naïve paediatric patients and 12 age-matched controls underwent 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanning. Between-group differences in GM and WM volumes across the whole brain were assessed. Outside the scanner, patients performed a reaching version of the stop-signal task. Both behavioural inhibitory control and neuroimaging measures were normal in TS patients. By contrast, OCD patients exhibited a significant loss in GM volume in five areas. The GM volume of the left inferior frontal gyrus was inversely correlated with the length of the SSRT, the left mid-cingulate gyrus and the right middle frontal gyrus were inversely correlated with the severity of OCD symptoms, and the left insula and the right medial orbitofrontal gyrus were inversely correlated with both. These results indicate that cortical areas showing GM loss in OCD patients are also involved in the network subserving reactive inhibition.

The therapeutic effect of progranulin derived Pcgin on neuronopathic Gaucher disease

Executive functions are higher-level cognitive functions. Despite being relevant to many aspects of everyday life, it is contentious whether executive functions are important for high performing athletes. Executive functions increase throughout the career of an athlete, yet it remains unknown what are the main contributors. Therefore, this study examined the effect of age and experience on executive functions in a cohort of high performing football players.Data were collected over three seasons, resulting in a mixed longitudinal sample of 1018 observations in 343 male players (1–5 observations/player, age: 10.34–34.72 years; playing experience: 5–22 years) from the U12-Senior age groups of a professional German football club. Players participated in four cognitive tasks aimed at measuring higher-level cognitive functioning: a precued choice reaction-time task, a stop-signal reaction-time task, a sustained attention task, and a multiple-object tracking task, from which a total of eight dependent variables related to response time and/or accuracy were derived.Linear and non-linear mixed effects regressions were used to investigate the relationship between age, experience and executive functions. A second order polynomial revealed that, generally, a negatively accelerated curve best described the relationship between age, experience and executive functions. An increasingly smaller difference in executive functioning was generally observed between subsequent age groups, with a performance plateau evident around adulthood (~21 years old). Age and experience only explained a very low to moderate proportion of the variance in executive functions (marginal explained variance ranged between 2 and 57%). A significant age by field position interaction effect was only observed for the sustained attention task’s accuracy and response time components (p < 0.001).Both age and experience showed a negatively accelerated relationship with executive functions in youth football players, and this relationship was generally field position-independent. These negatively accelerated curves seem to reflect those observed in general populations, where a plateau phase in the development of higher-level cognitive functioning is also observed around 21 years, reflecting the maturation of the central nervous system in normally developing individuals. Therefore, this study challenges the assumption surrounding the use and validity of executive functions as a measure of football performance potential in high performing athletes.

Stable inhibition-related inferior frontal hypoactivation and fronto-limbic hyperconnectivity in obsessive–compulsive disorder after concentrated exposure therapy

Response inhibition has previously been suggested as an endophenotype for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), evidenced by studies showing worse task performance, and altered task-related activation and connectivity. However, it’s unclear if these measures change following treatment. In this study, 31 OCD patients and 28 healthy controls performed a stop signal task during 3 T functional magnetic resonance imaging before treatment, while 24 OCD patients and 17 healthy controls were rescanned one week and three months after concentrated exposure and response prevention over four consecutive days using Bergen 4-Day Format. To study changes over time we performed a longitudinal analysis on stop signal reaction time and task-related activation and amygdala connectivity during successful and failed inhibition. Results showed that there was no group difference in task performance. Before treatment, OCD patients compared to controls showed less inhibition-related activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus, and increased functional connectivity between the right amygdala and the right inferior frontal gyrus and pre-supplementary motor area. During error-processing, OCD patients versus controls showed less activation in the pre-SMA before treatment. These group differences did not change after treatment. Pre-treatment task performance, brain activation, and connectivity were unrelated to the degree of symptom improvement after treatment. In conclusion, inferior frontal gyrus hypoactivation and increased fronto-limbic connectivity are likely trait markers of OCD that remain after effective exposure therapy.

Exploring the impact of a brief mindfulness induction on motor inhibitory control

AbstractInhibitory control can be divided into motor and cognitive inhibition. The current research is the first study exploring the impact of brief mindfulness training on motor inhibition, measured by a stop signal task in participants without any meditation experience. Motor inhibition performance was compared before and immediately after three different conditions; a brief mindfulness induction, a resting state and an active control session in which participants listened to their favorite music. Post-test learning effect on go-reaction times was seen for the resting and mindfulness conditions, but was absent in the music session, possibly due to emotional arousal might have led slower responses. Brief mindfulness training did not significantly alter inhibitory control, although marginal improvement in stop signal reaction time following the mindfulness induction was observed. Motor inhibition appears unresponsive to either short-term or long-term mindfulness practice. Future mindfulness studies should explore a broad spectrum of cognitive functions and populations.

The influence of dopaminergic polymorphisms on selective stopping

Although the genetic influence on global stopping has been extensively investigated, little is known about the genetic contribution to other more complex forms of inhibitory control such as selective stopping. The selectivity of inhibitory control can be assessed by using the stimulus-selective stop-signal task. Notably, recent behavioural and neural evidence indicates that individuals can adopt selective but also non-selective stopping strategies to solve it. This study aimed to investigate for the first time the influence of two relevant dopaminergic polymorphisms (in COMT and DRD2 genes) on stimulus-selective stopping in a sample of 529 adults. Results showed that although none of these polymorphisms (neither individually nor in combination) modulate the latency of the stop process in each strategy (the stop-signal reaction time), the choice of strategy was influenced by their interaction. These results suggest that dopaminergic polymorphisms might influence strategy adoption in selective stopping paradigms, which constitutes a novel finding.

Activity in orbitofrontal neuronal ensembles reflects inhibitory control.

Stopping, or inhibition, is a form of self-control that is a core element of flexible and adaptive behavior. Its neural origins remain unclear. Some views hold that inhibition decisions reflect the aggregation of widespread and diverse pieces of information, including information arising in ostensible core reward regions (i.e., outside the canonical executive system). We recorded activity of single neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) of macaques, a region associated with economic decisions, and whose role in inhibition is debated. Subjects performed a classic inhibition task known as the stop signal task. Ensemble decoding analyses reveal a clear firing rate pattern that distinguishes successful from failed inhibition and that begins after the stop signal and before the stop signal reaction time (SSRT). We also found a different and orthogonal ensemble pattern that distinguishes successful from failed stopping before the beginning of the trial. These signals were distinct from, and orthogonal to, value encoding, which was also observed in these neurons. The timing of the early and late signals was, respectively, consistent with the idea that neuronal activity in OFC encodes inhibition both proactively and reactively.

Slowed Movement Stopping in Parkinson\u2019s Disease and Focal Dystonia is Improved by Standard Treatment

Patients with Parkinson’s disease and focal dystonia have difficulty in generating and preventing movement. Reaction time (RT) and stop signal reaction time (SSRT) measure the speed to initiate and stop a movement respectively. We developed a portable device to assess RT and SSRT. This incorporated a novel analysis to measure SSRT more efficiently (optimal combination SSRT, ocSSRT). After validation ocSSRT was measured in Parkinson’s disease patients without dyskinesia (PD), cervical dystonia (CD) and writer’s cramp. We also assessed how ocSSRT responded to L-dopa in PD patients and botulinum toxin injections in CD patients. Participants were instructed to release a button following a green LED flash on the device. On 25% of trials, a red LED flashed 5–195 ms after the green LED; participations were instructed to abort the button release on these trials. ocSSRT and RT were significantly prolonged in patients with Parkinson’s disease and focal dystonia (one-way ANOVA p < 0.001). Administration of L-dopa significantly improved ocSSRT and RT in PD patients (p < 0.001). Administration of botulinum toxin significantly improved ocSSRT, but not RT, in CD patients (p < 0.05). ocSSRT is an easily-administered bedside neuro-physiological tool; significantly prolonged ocSSRT is associated with PD and focal dystonia.

Effects of threat and sleep deprivation on action tendencies and response inhibition.

The ability to control action is crucial for adaptive responding, but may be compromised in situations involving strong emotions (e.g., threat) or when people are deprived of resources (e.g., sleep). As compromised action control can have large consequences in threatening situations, for example when police officers face a potentially armed suspect, we experimentally investigated how acute threat and partial sleep deprivation affect the ability to control impulsive responses, in 52 healthy young adults performing a simulated shooting task. The results showed that acute threat increased the tendency to act quickly (i.e., reduced response times; b = 9.46, SE = 2.90, 95% CI [3.49, 15.29], p = .001) and impaired response inhibition (i.e., increased stop signal reaction times; b = -4.91, SE = 2.31, 95% CI [-9.47, -0.44], p = .035). In addition, 3 nights of partial sleep deprivation (5 hr [n = 28] vs. 8 hr [n = 24] of sleep), led to a significant decrease in overall response accuracy (b = -0.22, SE = 0.09, 95% CI [-0.40, -0.05], p = .025). Contrary to expectations, our results did not show increased threat sensitivity in sleep-deprived individuals (all p > .13). Nevertheless, they may have important implications for professionals who are required to maintain behavioral control under high levels of threat and who experience disturbed sleep due to for example, shift work, as both factors negatively affected performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Beneficial effect of task-irrelevant threat on response inhibition

It is widely accepted that task-irrelevant threats utilize processing resources, resulting in impaired cognitive processes. However, if some subcomponents of the cognitive processes are activated by a threat, these cognitive processes may be facilitated. In the present study, we investigated whether task-irrelevant threats enhance cognitive control if the threat and task-relevant processes commonly recruit a cognitive process, inhibitory process. To examine the impact of task-irrelevant threats on inhibitory control, we had participants perform a stop-signal task with mild electric shocks. They were at risk for receiving the shocks randomly in threat blocks while no such shock was administered in safe blocks. The results showed that the stop-signal reaction time decreased under threat compared to safe conditions, indicating that inhibitory control was enhanced under threat. This beneficial effect of threat on response inhibition was more evident in participants with high state anxiety. An additional measurement of motor execution indicated that the interaction between threat and response inhibition was not derived from general arousal under threat. Results suggest that emotion and cognition do not interact simply by sharing processing resources but are related more closely to each other than we have previously thought by engaging a common processing.

Food-Specific Inhibitory Control Mediates the Effect of Disgust Sensitivity on Body Mass Index.

Disgust is an emotion that drives food avoidance. People vary in their responses to disgust, which is captured by their disgust sensitivity. Disgust sensitivity is clinically significant because it can influence eating behaviors, and indirectly people’s body mass index (BMI). Inhibitory control can also influence BMI through the role that such reflective abilities play in governing food intake. In this study, we relied on neural models of disgust to suggest that disgust and inhibitory control are intertwined, and that inhibitory control facilitates the translation of disgust sensitivity into BMI. Mediation analyses applied to 46 subjects, including 29 normal body weight [BMI = 18.34 kg/m2 (SD = 1.58)] and 17 overweight/obese [BMI = 26.03 kg/m2 (SD = 2.58)] subjects, were used to test the hypothesis. Subjects completed the Chinese version of the Disgust Scale-Revised, and an inhibition control test (Food-Specific Stop-Signal Task). There were negative correlations between the disgust sensitivity score (DS) and body mass index (BMI), and between DS and stop-signal reaction time (SSRT). Moreover, BMI was positively correlated with SSRT. The mediation model results showed that disgust sensitivity was associated with BMI and that this relationship was mediated via inhibition control. There was no significant effect of DS on BMI, while the effect of SSRT on BMI was significant. This suggested that the effect of disgust sensitivity on BMI was fully mediated through food-specific inhibitory control. This supports our hypothesis that BMI is affected by disgust sensitivity and that this relationship is mediated by inhibition control. These findings reveal a key mechanism that underlies disgust sensitivity-BMI association and point to future research and potential interventions aimed at food intake management.

Neural correlates of enhanced response inhibition in the aftermath of stress

Life stress has been shown to impact cognitive functions, including inhibitory control. However, the immediate effects of acute stress on inhibitory control and the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. In a behavioral pilot study (N = 30) and a within-subject functional magnetic resonance imaging study (N = 30), we examined how acute stress induced by Trier Social Stress Test influenced inhibitory control in a stop signal task. Behavioral results across two studies showed that stress consistently improved inhibitory control. Shorter stop signal reaction time (SSRT) in stress as compared with control condition was associated with stronger connectivity between the superior/middle frontal gyrus (SFG/MFG) and striatum. Dynamic causal modeling revealed distinct best models under stress and control condition, with an enhanced interaction between the SFG/MFG and the striatum after stress exposure. This research identified the SFG/MFG-striatum network as a key circuit underlying acute stress-elicited enhancement of inhibitory control in a stop signal task.

Age-Related Differences in Executive Functions Within High-Level Youth Soccer Players

Background: When measuring executive functions (EF), it is common for athletes to be assessed on their ability to detect and process explicit sources of information. Yet not all of the information is perceived explicitly in an environment. Aim: This study aimed to include a new assessment that measures the impact of implicitly perceived congruent and incongruent visual precues on response times. Method: Seventy-four male soccer players: U12 (n=15), U13 (n=17), U17 (n=21) and U19 (n=21) representing a German 1st league club were assessed on four cognitive tasks. Results: The MANOVAs revealed a multivariate effect of age group on a reactive stress tolerance task (F(6,140)=11.670, p&lt;0.001, ES=0.38) and a Stop Signal Reaction Time task (F(6,144)=6.142, p&lt;0.001, ES=0.20). A one-way ANOVA revealed an age group effect for response accuracy in a multiple-object-tracking task (F(3,74)=4.05, p=0.01, ES=0.14). Lastly, a within-subjects effect of congruency on the implicit precued task (F(1,74)=51.32, p&lt;0.001, ES=0.41) and a between-subjects effect of age group (F(3,74)=4.30, p=0.008, ES=0.15) was observed. Interpretation: The results provided support for including an implicit precueing task, while the overall testing demonstrated that the magnitude of the increase in EF performance between ages was greater across the younger age groups compared to the older age groups.&#x0D;

Abnormal neural functions associated with motor inhibition deficits in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Deficits in response inhibition have been observed in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; however, the neural origins of the abnormalities and their relevance to genetic liability for psychosis are unknown. We used a stop‐signal task to examine motor inhibition and associated neural processes in schizophrenia patients (n = 57), bipolar disorder patients (n = 21), first‐degree biological relatives of patients with schizophrenia (n = 34), and healthy controls (n = 56). Schizophrenia patients demonstrated motor control deficits reflected in longer stop‐signal reaction times and elongated reaction times. With the possibility of needing to inhibit a button press, both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients showed diminished reductions of the P300 brain response and only the healthy controls demonstrated adjustments in response execution time, as measured by response‐locked lateralized readiness potentials. Schizotypal traits in the biological relatives were associated with less P300 modulation consistent with the motor‐related anomalies being associated with subtle schizophrenia‐spectrum symptomatology in family members. The two patient groups had elongated response selection processes as manifest in the delayed onset of the stimulus‐locked lateralized readiness potential. The bipolar disorder group was unique in showing significantly diminished neural responses to the stop‐signal to inhibit a response. Antipsychotic medication dosage was related to worse motor inhibition, thus motor inhibition deficits in schizophrenia may be partially explained by the effect of pharmacological agents. Failed modulation of brain processes in relation to response inhibition probability and the lengthening of motor response selection appear to be transdiagnostic abnormalities spanning schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.