Are electrophysiological correlates of response inhibition linked to
impulsivity and compulsivity? A machine-learning analysis of a Go/Nogo
task
Abstract
Heightened impulsivity and compulsivity are often found in association
with both dysfunctional everyday behavior as well as with
psychopathology. Impulsivity and compulsivity are also linked to
alterations in behavioral response inhibition and its
electrophysiological correlates. However, they are rarely examined
jointly and their effect outside of clinical samples is still disputed.
This study assesses the influence and interaction of impulsivity and
compulsivity as measured by questionnaires on behavioral performance and
event-related potentials (N2, P3a and P3b) in a visual Go/Nogo task.
Data from 250 participants from the general population (49% female; age
M = 25.16, SD = 5.07; education level: 94% high school or higher;
self-reported lifetime diagnosis of any mental disorder: 12%) were
collected. We used robust linear regression as well as regression tree
analyses, a type of machine learning algorithm, to uncover potential
non-linear effects. We did not find any significant relationship between
the self-report measures and behavioral or neural inhibition effects in
either type of analysis, with the exception of a linear effect of the
premeditation scale of the UPPS on behavioral performance. The current
sample size was large enough to uncover even small effects. We discuss
potential explanations for this current null finding. One possibility is
that inhibitory performance was unimpaired in the current sample and
that associations between inhibitory performance and self-report
measures might only be seen in samples with mental disorders.