Investigating Intra-Individual Networks of Response Inhibition and Interference Resolution using 7T MRI

Isherwood, Scott JS; Bazin, Pierre‐Louis; Miletić, Steven; Stevenson, Niek; Trutti, Anne C.; Tse, Desmond H. Y.; Heathcote, Andrew; Matzke, Dóra; Innes, Reilly James; Habli, Sarah; Sokołowski, Daniel Radosław; Alkemade, Anneke; Håberg, Asta K.; Forstmann, Birte U. · 2023 · NeuroImage

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119988

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Summary

This study investigates the neural overlap between response inhibition and interference resolution, two cognitive processes often grouped under a single inhibitory control system. While previous research relied on between-subject designs or lower-field MRI, this work employs ultra-high-field (7T) MRI to examine intra-individual activation patterns. The authors aim to determine whether these constructs share common neural substrates within the cortico-basal-ganglia loop and to utilize cognitive modeling to link behavioral dynamics to brain activity. The researchers scanned 37 participants using a Siemens 7T MRI system, optimizing the echo time (14 ms) to enhance signal sensitivity in deep subcortical structures. Participants performed two tasks: the Stop-Signal Task (SST) to measure response inhibition and the Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT) to assess interference resolution. Functional data were analyzed using individual general linear models and high-resolution anatomical parcellation for subcortical regions. To interpret behavioral data, the SST was modeled using the Bayesian Estimation of Ex-Gaussian Stop-Signal (BEESTS) method, while the MSIT was analyzed using a racing Wald evidence accumulation model. This approach allowed for the estimation of specific parameters, such as stop-signal reaction time and drift rates, to correlate with neural activity. The results indicate that response inhibition and interference resolution are rooted in anatomically distinct brain areas with little spatial overlap. Common BOLD responses were observed only in the inferior frontal gyrus and anterior insula across both tasks. Interference resolution relied more heavily on subcortical components, specifically nodes of the indirect and hyperdirect pathways, as well as the anterior cingulate cortex and pre-supplementary motor area. Conversely, orbitofrontal cortex activation was found to be specific to response inhibition. The model-based analysis further revealed dissimilarities in the behavioral dynamics between the two tasks, supporting the conclusion that they engage different neural mechanisms. These findings challenge the notion of a unified inhibitory network, suggesting instead that response inhibition and interference resolution utilize distinct neural architectures. The study highlights the importance of reducing inter-individual variance through within-subject designs and demonstrates the value of 7T MRI for resolving high-resolution functional mapping in deep subcortical structures. By integrating cognitive modeling with ultra-high-field imaging, the work provides a more mechanistic understanding of inhibitory control, distinguishing the specific neural contributions of global response inhibition from selective interference resolution.

Key finding

Response inhibition and interference resolution are rooted in anatomically distinct brain areas with little spatial overlap, despite shared activation in the inferior frontal gyrus and anterior insula.

Methodology

lab_experiment

Sample size: 37

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• executive function