The cognitive instability aspect of impulsivity predicts the ERN: An ERP study

Defined as a tendency to act without thinking or considering the consequences, impulsivity may affect the ability to detect and respond to errors. However, impulsivity is a multidimensional construct with attentional, motor and non-planning components, among others. Not all aspects of impulsivity may relate to error monitoring. In this event-related potential (ERP) study we used an individual difference approach with a large sample of healthy young adults (n = 261) and the flanker task to explore what specific facets of impulsivity were predictive of error monitoring as indexed by the error-related negativity (ERN).

The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) was used to measure impulsivity and its subcomponents. A visual flanker task was administered to elicit the commission of errors and the associated ERN.

BIS-11 total scores did not correlate with ERN amplitude. Using an exploratory strategy, we first regressed scores for six previously identified components of impulsivity on the ERN, finding a significant coefficient for cognitive instability. Because internal consistency was low, we next conducted a principal component analysis of the 30 BIS-11 items; three factors emerged: planning, impetuosity and cognitive instability. When the three scale scores were regressed on ERN amplitudes, only cognitive instability ("racing thoughts") was predictive, associating greater cognitive instability with reduced ERN amplitudes.

Increases in the cognitive instability aspect of impulsivity predicts reduced ERN amplitudes, which may be related to individual differences in the motivational salience of errors.