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. 2022 Nov;240(11):3061-3072.
doi: 10.1007/s00221-022-06480-x. Epub 2022 Oct 14.

Exploring stop signal reaction time over two sessions of the anticipatory response inhibition task

Alison Hall  1   2 , Ned Jenkinson  1   2 , Hayley J MacDonald  3
Affiliations

Exploring stop signal reaction time over two sessions of the anticipatory response inhibition task

Alison Hall et al. Exp Brain Res. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Various behavioural tasks measure response inhibition encompassing the ability to cancel unwanted actions, evaluated via stop signal reaction time (SSRT). It is unclear whether SSRT is an unchangeable inherent measure of inhibitory network integrity or whether it can improve with repetition. The current study explored if and how SSRT changed over two sessions for the Anticipatory Response Inhibition Task (ARIT), and how this compared with the Stop Signal Task (SST). Forty-four participants repeated the ARIT and SST over two sessions. SSRT and its constituent measures (Go trial reaction time, stop signal delay) were calculated. SSRT reflecting non-selective response inhibition was consistent between sessions in the ARIT and SST (both p > 0.293). Reaction time and stop signal delay also remained stable across sessions in the ARIT (all p > 0.063), whereas in the SST, reaction time (p = 0.013) and stop signal delay (p = 0.009) increased. SSRT reflecting behaviourally selective stopping on the ARIT improved (p < 0.001) over two sessions, which was underpinned by changes to reaction time (p < 0.001) and stop signal delay (p < 0.001). Overall, the maximal efficiency of non-selective inhibition remained stable across two sessions in the ARIT. Results of the SST confirmed that non-selective inhibition can, however, be affected by more than inhibitory network integrity. Behaviourally selective stopping on the ARIT changed across sessions, suggesting the sequential neural process captured by the SSRT occurred more quickly in session two. These findings have implications for future studies that necessitate behavioural measures over multiple sessions.

Keywords: Anticipatory response inhibition task; Response inhibition; Stop signal reaction time; Stop signal task.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Visual display of A GO, B SB (Non-Selective Stop Both), C SL (Stop Left) and D SR (Stop Right) trials in the ARIT. Green keys represent successful release at the target and red keys represent successfully keeping the key depressed. On successful Go trials, both keys are released at the target line. On successful SB trials, both keys are held down. On successful SL trials, the right key is lifted and the left key is held down. On successful SR trials, the left key is lifted and the right key is held down
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Visual representation of the Stop Signal Task. Green tick marks represent a successful Go trial (A) where the participant presses the correct key corresponding to the symbol. Red crosses represent a successful Stop trial (B) where participants refrain from pressing the key following the stop signal
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mean SSRT (A), RT (C) and SSD (D) for the ARIT SB and SST in sessions 1 and 2, reported in milliseconds (ms). Shaded box plots represent the interquartile range (IQR) (75th percentile (Q3)–25th percentile (Q1)). Red horizontal line represents the median. The vertical dashed lines represent the non-outlier minimum (Q1 − 1.5 × IQR) and maximum (Q3 + 1.5 × IQR). Data circles represent individual participant results. B Linear correlation between SSRT for the SST and ARIT SB in session 1 and session 2. Data circles represent individual participant SSRT. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Mean SSRT (A), RT (B) and SSD (C) for behaviourally selective stopping on the ARIT (Selective Stop trials collapsed across side) in sessions 1 and 2, reported in milliseconds (ms). Shaded box plots represent the interquartile range (IQR) (75th percentile (Q3) – 25th percentile (Q1)). Red horizontal line represents the median. The vertical dashed lines represent the non-outlier minimum (Q1—1.5 × IQR) and maximum (Q3 + 1.5 × IQR). Data circles represent individual participant results. ***p < 0.001
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