A processing schema for children in the auditory equiprobable Go/NoGo task: ERP components and behaviour

A sequential processing model for adults in the auditory equiprobable Go/NoGo task has been developed in recent years. This used temporal principal components analysis (PCA) to decompose Go/NoGo event related potential (ERP) data into components that mark stages of perceptual and cognitive processing. The model has been found useful in frameworking several studies in young and older adults, and in children. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the common PCA approach of decomposing Go and NoGo ERP data together results in misallocation of variance between the conditions, distorting the timing, topography, and amplitudes of the resultant components in each condition. The present study thus reanalyses data from a child study, conducting separate PCAs on the data from each condition. Multiple regression was then used to seek links with behavioural measures from the task. In addition to confirming the previous NoGo N2b/inhibitory processing link, novel NoGo Negative Slow Wave/error evaluation and Go N1-1/RT variability links were obtained. Based on these outcomes, the recommended separate application of PCAs to Go and NoGo data was confirmed. The present data were used to develop a child-specific sequential processing schema for this paradigm, suggesting earlier separation of the Go and NoGo processing chains, and the need to include an additional inhibition and evaluation stage. The child schema should be useful in future studies involving this and other two-choice reaction tasks.