Reduced punishment sensitivity in neural systems of behavior monitoring in impulsive individuals

Neurosci Lett. 2006 Apr;397(1-2):130-4. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2005.12.003. Epub 2005 Dec 27.

Abstract

This study measured the response-locked event-related potential during a flanker task with performance-based monetarily rewarding and punishing trials in 37 undergraduate students separated into high- and low-impulsive groups based on a median split on self-reported Barrett Impulsiveness Scale. The high-impulsive group had a smaller medial frontal error-related negativity (ERN) on punishment trials than the low-impulsive group. The medial prefrontal neural system of behavior monitoring, indexed by the ERN, appears less sensitive to punishment signals in normal impulsivity. This reduced punishment sensitivity in impulsivity, a personality variation associated with several mental and personality disorders including ADHD and substance abuse may be related to the tendency to select short-term rewards despite potential long-term negative consequences in these individuals.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Brain Mapping
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology*
  • Female
  • Gyrus Cinguli / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic*
  • Punishment*
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Reward