POTENTIALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INITIATION AND INHIBITION OF VISUALLY TRIGGERED FINGER MOVEMENT IN HUMANS - THE NO-GO POTENTIAL IN THE GO NO-GO PARADIGM

Surface event-related potentials associated with visually triggered movements (Go) and the inhibition of planned movements (No-Go) of the right index finger were examined in seven normal healthy subjects. Subjects' response priming was manipulated by presenting two sessions which either emphasized the Go condition (50 go trials vs. 30 no-go trials) or the No-Go condition (30 go trials vs. 50 no-go trials). Stimulus-locked waveforms showed enhanced components (P1-N1, N2, N1-P300) for the No-Go trials particularly in the response priming which emphasized the Go condition. It is suggested that the inhibition of planned movements is associated with surface negativity which trails the sensory P1-N1 potential yet may partially overlap it and therefore influence its amplitude. This "no-go' potential is dependent on the response priming of the subject and is most apparent when fast responses are planned and then arrested.