IMPULSIVITY AND NEGATIVE PRIMING - EVIDENCE FOR DIMINISHED COGNITIVE INHIBITION IN IMPULSIVE CHILDREN

This study addresses the relationship between impulsivity and lack of inhibition. Inhibition was measured both by the interference score and by the negative priming effect in a Stroop colour-word paradigm. The negative priming effect in this paradigm is defined by slower naming o f a target colour if this colour was the distracter in the immediately preceding trial. For the study, a total of 210 school children were s elected. These were children rated high or low by their teachers for e ither social or cognitive impulsivity. A reduced negative priming effe ct showed up with social type but not with cognitive type impulsive ch ildren. No differences were found regarding the Stroop interference sc ore. The divergence between negative priming and interference as a mea sure of inhibition was discussed. Overall, the findings corroborate th e distinction between a cognitive and a social dimension of impulsivit y.