ERP and behavioral indicators of inhibitory control in a high risk population

Abstract

Inhibitory control is an essential skill for multiple domains including academic functioning and peer relationships. The current study assessed the effectiveness of an attachment based parenting intervention (Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up), implemented in infancy, on inhibitory control when the children were eight years of age. Inhibitory control was measured among three populations - a high risk intervention group, a high risk control group, and a low risk comparison group. One hundred and four 8-year-old children underwent behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) measures during a forced-choice inhibitory control task - the Stop Signal Reaction Time Task (SSRT). Children in the low risk comparison group performed better than the high risk control group on behavioral indicators of inhibitory control. No significant differences emerged between the high risk intervention group and the low risk comparison group or the high risk control group. Children who did not receive the intervention performed worse on the SSRT task then children in the low risk comparison group. No differences were found in ERP amplitudes between groups.