Research Article

Neural correlates of successful and partial inhibitions in children: An ERP study

  1. Lucy Cragg1,2,*,
  2. Allison Fox3,
  3. Kate Nation2,
  4. Corinne Reid4,
  5. Mike Anderson3

Article first published online: 14 AUG 2009

DOI: 10.1002/dev.20391

Issue

Developmental Psychobiology

Developmental Psychobiology

Volume 51, Issue 7, pages 533–543, November 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Cragg, L., Fox, A., Nation, K., Reid, C. and Anderson, M. (2009), Neural correlates of successful and partial inhibitions in children: An ERP study. Dev. Psychobiol., 51: 533–543. doi: 10.1002/dev.20391

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK

  2. 2

    Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

  3. 3

    School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

  4. 4

    School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

*School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 OCT 2009
  2. Article first published online: 14 AUG 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 26 JUN 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 16 FEB 2009

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Keywords:

  • inhibition;
  • go/no-go;
  • event-related potentials;
  • children;
  • development;
  • N2;
  • P3

Abstract

This experiment used event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate the neural processes underlying the development of response inhibition in a modified version of the go/no-go paradigm [Cragg and Nation [2008] Developmental Science 11(6): 819–827]. N2 and P3 ERP components on correct go trials and partial and successful inhibitions were compared in 7- and 9-year-old children. A larger N2 effect on successful inhibitions was found in 9-year-olds compared to 7-year-olds at fronto-central electrodes. N2 amplitude was positively related to behavioral performance in the 7-year-olds suggesting it may reflect inhibitory processes; however, this relationship was not present in the 9-year-olds. Age differences were also apparent in the go P3, perhaps indicating differences in stimulus processing. The no-go P3 component was larger on successful than partial inhibitions. In contrast, there was no difference in N2 amplitude between partial and successful inhibitions. A significant difference was found in N2 latency however. This suggests that inhibitory processes are similar in both cases but initiated earlier on successful inhibitions. N2 latency was also shorter in 9-year-olds than 7-year-olds supporting an increase in the efficiency of response inhibition with age. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 51: 533–543, 2009.

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