Behavioral inhibition in college students: Correlates with event-related potentials (ERP).

摘要

The relationship between AD/HD symptomatology, behavioral inhibition, and event-related potentials (ERP) was investigated in a college student population. Participants included 85 college students from the University of South Carolina. Students completed the College AD/HD Response Evaluation (CARE), student report inventory, a measure of AD/HD symptomatology designed for college students, and collateral report was obtained from 73 participant's parents who completed the CARE parent-report inventory. Behavioral inhibition was measured via the tracking stop-signal task, while ERPS were recorded with 128-electrode high-density EEG. Results showed several concerns for the psychometric properties of the CARE. More specifically, the Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity factors were highly correlated and the Inattention factor appeared to account for the relationship between CARE scores and behavioral indices. Results showed that higher CARE Inattention factor scores were related to longer RTs on the stop-signal task and longer medial frontal N2 peak latencies. Also, the CARE had, at best, moderate agreement (kappa) and specificity with a self-reported history of AD/HD diagnosis. Interestingly, higher CARE factor scores and a previous history of AD/HD diagnosis were related to shorter SSRTs, which was in the opposite direction as predicted. Exploratory PCA revealed that a previous diagnosis of AD/HD was related to a suppressed N2 waveform over the medial frontal scalp regions. This was indicative of less efficient inhibitory processes in students who reported a history of an AD/HD diagnosis. These results may indicate behavioral compensation in college students who experience more AD/HD-like impairment. In addition to discussing the results, ocular artifact correction procedures and correction procedures for ERP overlap are discussed.