Response inhibition subprocesses and dopaminergic pathways: basal ganglia disease effects.

Response inhibition is a component of executive functions, which can be divided into distinct subprocesses by means of event-related potentials (ERPs). These subprocesses are (pre)-motor inhibition and inhibition monitoring, which are probably reflected by the Nogo-N2 and Nogo-P3, respectively. Here we ask, if these subprocesses may depend on distinct basal ganglia subsystems.

Response monitoring in de novo patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is accompanied by dysfunctions in a variety of cognitive processes. One of these is error processing, which depends upon phasic decreases of medial prefrontal dopaminergic activity. Until now, there is no study evaluating these processes in newly diagnosed, untreated patients with PD ("de novo PD").

Effects of aging, Parkinson's disease, and dopaminergic medication on response selection and control.

We examined effects of short-term and long-term dopaminergic medication in Parkinson's disease on conflict monitoring or response selection processes. These processes were examined using event-related potentials (ERPs), while subjects performed a stimulus-response (S-R) compatibility task. An extended sample of young and elderly controls, Parkinson's disease patients with a medication history (PDs) and initially diagnosed, drug-naïve de novo PD patients (de novo PDs) were enrolled.

Effects of stimulus-response compatibility on inhibitory processes in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative basal ganglia disorder accompanied by deficits in cognitive functions. One important executive function is the inhibition of responses. Due to basal ganglia damage, processes related to the selection of response are also dysfunctional.

Error processing in normal aging and in basal ganglia disorders.

Recently it has been shown that effects of aging and pathologically induced changes of basal ganglia structures may have quite similar effects on cognitive functions mediated by the medial prefrontal cortex. The question appears, if this pattern may be assignable to other cognitive functions that are mediated via the basal ganglia and medial prefrontal brain areas. Error processing is a component of executive functions that also depends on these areas and especially on the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).