An electrophysiological study of the insertion of overt response choice

Using electrophysiological measures, the authors studied changes in prestim ulus state, stimulus identification, and response-related processing when, in a go/no-go task, forced choice between 2 overt go responses was inserted . The authors observed decreased prestimulus motor preparation (electromyog ram), no change in stimulus identification time (selection negativity), a m inor increase in response selection time (lateralized readiness potential), a large increase in response preparation time (lateralized readiness poten tial), a minor effect on response execution time (electromyogram), and a de crease in the activation of a response-inhibition process on no-go trials ( frontal event-related potential). The existence of the response-inhibition process was verified by the presence of inverted lateralized readiness pote ntials on no-go trials. Pure insertion of response choice in a task seems i mpossible because the choice between activation and inhibition (go/no-go) a lways seems already present.