Inhibitory control in euthymic bipolar disorder: event related potentials during a Go/NoGo task

Publication date: Available online 18 December 2016
Source:Clinical Neurophysiology
Author(s): A.M. Morsel, M. Dhar, W. Hulstijn, A. Temmerman, M. Morrens, B. Sabbe
ObjectivesPatients with bipolar disorder (BD) are reported to have difficulties with inhibition, even in a euthymic state. However, the literature on cortical activity associated with response inhibition in BD remains ambiguous. This study investigates inhibition in euthymic BD using electrophysiological measures, while controlling for effects of specific medications.MethodsTwenty patients with BD were compared with eighteen healthy controls on a Go/NoGo task while electroencephalogram was recorded. Behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) measurements were analyzed for the two groups. Medication effects were controlled for in the analysis.ResultsPatients with BD had marginally reduced NoGo N2 amplitudes and increased NoGo P3 amplitudes compared with healthy controls when patients using benzodiazepines were excluded from the study. No behavioural differences between the groups were found.ConclusionsReduced NoGo N2 amplitudes in BD reflect aberrant conflict detection, an early stage of the inhibition process. In addition, increased NoGo P3 amplitudes in BD despite normal task performance reflect an overactive cortical system during a simple inhibition task.SignificanceDifficulties in early stages of inhibition in BD appear to have been compensated by increased cortical activation. This study extends current knowledge regarding cortical activations relating to inhibition in BD.



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