Separable cortico-basal ganglia networks support self-imposed transient response inhibition

Aim: High-frequency electrical stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been linked with loss of inhibitory control in patients with Parkinson’s disease (1). Yet, experiments using classical tasks of externally cued response inhibition (e.g. stop-signal-reaction-time task) in those patients have yielded conflicting results (2,3). We aimed to study brain network activity during self-imposed inhibition of visually cued finger movements. Methods: During fMRI, healthy volunteers had to respond to a 2-choice reaction time paradigm. However, they were told, not to respond immediately, but after a self-chosen v…