Effects of the interstimulus interval on somatosensory go/no-go event-related potentials

This study investigated the characteristics of event-related potentials using somatosensory go/no-go paradigms. We manipulated the interstimulus interval and analyzed its effect on the peak amplitude and latency of the N140 and P300 components. The amplitude of N140 increased as the interstimulus interval increased, and was significantly larger in no-go than in go trials at the 1-s and 2-s interstimulus intervals, but not the 4-s and 6-s interstimulus intervals. The amplitude of P300 also increased with the interstimulus interval, and was significantly larger in no-go than in go trials at all interstimulus intervals. The reaction time in go trials was longer with increasing interstimulus interval. This study suggests that brain activities associated with go/no-go decisional processes are influenced by the interstimulus interval.