The Functional Localization of Response Inhibition: A Cross-task Conjunctive Approach

Abstract:
Abstract: Conjunction analysis was used to explore commonly activated brain regions related to specific inhibitory functions involved in different versions of a go-no-go and a stop task as well as across both tasks. 21 healthy, dextral, male adults participated. In the stop task the motor response to a go-stimulus had to be inhibited on either 50% or 30% of trials, indicated by a stop signal shortly following the go-stimulus. In the go-no-go task the response response had to be either executed (go signal) or inhibited (no-go signal) in either 50% or 30% of trials. Activation tasks (30s) alternated with control tasks in a block design. 100 T2*-weighted gradient echo echoplanar magneto-resonance (MR) images depicting blood-oxygen-level-dependent contrast were acquired from 15 near-axial slices parallel to the intercomissure plane co-registered on to high-resolution structural MR echoplanar images. A conjunctive analysis (p < .00037) was performed on the motion-corrected generic brain activation maps to explore commonly activated brain regions. Conjunctive activation across the different go-no-go versions was in predominantly left hemispheric mesial, medial and inferior frontal cortex and parietal lobe. Conjunctive activation across the stop versions was in predominantly right hemispheric inferior prefrontal, parietal and supplementary motor cortices. Conjunctive activation across tasks was in bilateral inferior prefrontal and parietal cortices, showing an infero-prefronto-parietal network for response inhibition.