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Short-term training in the Go/Nogo task: behavioural and neural changes depend on task demands
Nicholas Benikos1, Stuart J Johnstone, Steven J Roodenrys
1Brain & Behaviour Research Institute, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. npb95@uow.edu.au
Summary
Optimizing inhibitory control training requires moderate cognitive demands. Task difficulty influences behavioral improvements and brain activity changes, highlighting its key role in enhancing executive functions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroscience of Executive Functions
Background:
- Executive functions, including inhibitory control, are modulated by cognitive demands and practice.
- Understanding how task difficulty affects neural plasticity during training is crucial for optimizing cognitive enhancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of varying task difficulty on inhibitory control training.
- To examine how reaction time deadlines (RTD) influence behavioral performance, brain activity (ERPs), and arousal during Go/Nogo task practice.
Main Methods:
- Sixty adults were assigned to High (300 ms RTD), Medium (500 ms RTD), or Low (1000 ms RTD) task difficulty conditions for a Go/Nogo training session.
- Behavioral performance, event-related potentials (ERPs), and skin conductance levels were measured to assess training effects.
Main Results:
- Behavioral improvements in Go/Nogo proficiency were greatest under moderate task difficulty.
- Across all conditions, arousal increased similarly with practice, suggesting generalized resource mobilization.
- Training-related changes in ERPs varied by difficulty: Low difficulty showed enhanced Nogo P2, while High difficulty exhibited greater Nogo>Go P3 augmentation and Nogo N1 reduction.
Conclusions:
- Moderate task difficulty optimizes inhibitory control training outcomes.
- Task difficulty plays a key role in shaping practice-related neural changes in inhibitory control.
- Training-induced modifications in brain activity are qualitatively distinct depending on the level of inhibitory demand.
