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Impulsivity affects mismatch negativity (MMN) measures of preattentive auditory processing
Ingmar H A Franken1, Ilse Nijs, Jan W Van Strien
1Erasmus University Rotterdam, Institute of Psychology, Woudestein J5-43, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. franken@fsw.eur.nl
Biological Psychology
|October 26, 2005
Summary
Impulsivity is linked to how the brain processes sounds before conscious attention. High impulsivity correlates with stronger mismatch negativity (MMN) brain responses, suggesting bottom-up auditory processing differences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Impulsive personality traits are associated with various cognitive control deficits.
- Mismatch negativity (MMN) is a neurophysiological measure reflecting preattentive auditory change detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between self-reported impulsivity and mismatch negativity (MMN) in healthy adults.
- To explore the role of preattentive auditory processing in individual differences in impulsivity.
Main Methods:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to record brain activity during a passive auditory oddball paradigm.
- Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing impulsive behaviors.
- MMN amplitude was measured at the left lateral cluster and correlated with impulsivity scores.
Main Results:
- A negative correlation was found between MMN amplitude and self-reported impulsivity.
- Individuals with higher impulsivity exhibited larger MMN amplitudes.
- This suggests a link between impulsivity and the brain's bottom-up processing of auditory stimuli.
Conclusions:
- Impulsivity is associated with preattentive auditory processing, independent of response execution.
- Findings implicate bottom-up sensory processing in the temporal lobes as a contributing factor to impulsivity.
- This research highlights the involvement of lower-order auditory cortex processes in impulsive behaviors.