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Conflict adaptation and cognitive control adjustments following traumatic brain injury

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2009

MICHAEL J. LARSON ,
DAVID A.S. KAUFMAN  and
WILLIAM M. PERLSTEIN
MICHAEL J. LARSON*
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
DAVID A.S. KAUFMAN
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
WILLIAM M. PERLSTEIN
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida Department of Psychiatry and the McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Michael J. Larson, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, 244 TLRB, Provo, Utah 84602. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Survivors of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often demonstrate impairments in the cognitive control functions of detecting response conflict and signaling for recruitment of cognitive resources to appropriately adjust performance. These cognitive control functions can be measured using conflict adaptation effects, wherein manifestations of conflict detection and processing are reduced following high- relative to low-conflict trials. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were collected while 18 survivors of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 21 demographically matched control participants performed a modified Stroop task. The incongruent-minus-congruent trial Stroop effect for trials preceded by incongruent (high conflict) and congruent (low conflict) trials were compared for behavioral (response time [RT] and error rate) and ERP reflections of cognitive control. Behavioral data showed a reduction in the Stroop effect for both control and TBI participant RTs when preceded by incongruent trials. The magnitude of these effects did not differentiate control and TBI participants. ERP data revealed a centro-parietal conflict slow potential (conflict SP) that differentiated incongruent from congruent trials. Planned comparisons showed a decreased amplitude conflict SP when ERPs were preceded by incongruent trials in control, but not TBI participants. Results indicate subtle TBI-related impairments in conflict resolution mechanisms in the context of intact RT-related conflict adaptation. (JINS, 2009, 15, 927–937.)

Keywords

Event-related potentials (ERPs)ConflictAdaptationSequential trialN450Conflict SPCognitive controlAnterior cingulate cortex (ACC)GrattonTraumatic brain injuryTBIStroop
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 15 , Issue 6 , November 2009 , pp. 927 - 937
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2009

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