fMRI evidence that the neural basis of response inhibition is task-dependent
Abstract
Event-related fMRI was used to investigate the hypothesis that neural activity involved in response inhibition depends upon the nature of the response being inhibited. Two different Go/No-go tasks were compared-one with a high working memory load and one with low. The 'simple' Go/No-go task with low working memory load required subjects to push a button in response to green spaceships but not red spaceships. A 'counting' Go/No-go task (high working memory load) required subjects to respond to green spaceships as well as to those red spaceships preceded by an even number of green spaceships. In both tasks, stimuli were presented every 1.5 s with a 5:1 ratio of green-to-red spaceships. fMRI group data for each task were analyzed using random effects models to determine signal change patterns associated with Go events and No-go events (corrected P< or =0.05). For both tasks, Go responses were associated with signal change in the left primary sensorimotor cortex, supplementary motor area (SMA) proper, and anterior cerebellum (right>left). For the simple task, No-go events were associated with activation in the pre-SMA; the working memory-loaded 'counting' task elicited additional No-go activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The findings suggest that neural contributions to response inhibition may be task dependent; the pre-SMA appears necessary for inhibition of unwanted movements, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is recruited for tasks involving increased working memory load.
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The neural substrates of response control depend partly on task demand.
“Functional imaging findings using these two tasks indicate that the neural substrates of response control are, in some respects, dependent on task demand (Mostofsky et al., 2003).”
From Increased intra-individual reaction time variability in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across response inhibition tasks with different cognitive demands (2009) · cites this paper as Mostofsky et al., 2003
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation occurred only in the complex Go/No-go task, where working memory guided inhibitory control.
“Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation was only observed in the complex Go/No-go task in which working memory was necessary to guide inhibitory control.”
From Increased intra-individual reaction time variability in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across response inhibition tasks with different cognitive demands (2009) · cites this paper as Mostofsky et al., 2003
Localization of frontal activation associated with response inhibition varies across studies and appears dependent on the nature of the task.
“Localization within the frontal cortex, however, varies across studies and appears dependent on the nature of the task.”
From Meta-analysis of Go/No-go tasks demonstrating that fMRI activation associated with response inhibition is task-dependent (2008) · cites this paper as Mostofsky et al., 2003
In a study contrasting two Go/No-go tasks, activation associated with No-go events in right-lateralized frontoparietal regions, mainly in the right DLPFC, was significantly greater during the complex task than the simple task.
“activation associated with No-go events in right-lateralized frontoparietal regions, mainly in the right DLPFC, was significantly greater during the “complex” Go/No-go task which required manipulation of stimulus-response associations in working memory over the “simple” Go/No-go task in which stimulus-response associations remained constant”
From Meta-analysis of Go/No-go tasks demonstrating that fMRI activation associated with response inhibition is task-dependent (2008) · cites this paper as Mostofsky et al., 2003
In ADHD, impairments are observed in both response inhibition and motor response preparation/selection.
“where impairments in both response inhibition (Aron & Poldrack, 2005; Barkley, 1997; Nigg, 1999) and motor response preparation/selection (Banaschewski et al., 2004; Ben-Pazi et al., 2003; Rubia et al., 2003; Mostofsky, 2003) are observed.”
From Meta-analysis of Go/No-go tasks demonstrating that fMRI activation associated with response inhibition is task-dependent (2008) · cites this paper as Mostofsky, 2003
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References 73 · Cited by 320
- Authors
- Mostofsky, S. H., Schafer, J. G. B., Abrams, M. T., Goldberg, M. C., Flower, A. A., Boyce, A., Courtney, S. M., Calhoun, V. D., Kraut, M. A., Denckla, M. B., & Pekar, J. J.
- Affiliations
- Kennedy Krieger Institute (US)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mostofsky, Stewart H
- ORCID
- Venue
- Cognitive Brain Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-07
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 419-430
- ISSN
- 0926-6410 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2049016482
- Cited by
- 320
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 6.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cognitive Brain Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (K01MH001824, K01 MH 01824)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (K08 NS02039, K08NS002039)
- National Center for Research Resources (M01 RR-00052, P41RR15241, P41RR015241, M01RR000052)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Keywords
- response inhibition, task dependence, go/no-go task, working memory load, pre-supplementary motor area, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, anterior cerebellum, primary sensorimotor cortex
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analysis of Variance, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neural Inhibition, Psychomotor Performance, Reaction Time
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