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Developmental change in intentional action and inhibition: A heart rate analysis
Author(s) -
Schel Margot A.,
Windhorst Dafna A.,
Molen Maurits W.,
Crone Eveline A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/psyp.12065
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , heart rate , response inhibition , action (physics) , neuroscience , cognition , medicine , physics , quantum mechanics , blood pressure
The ability to inhibit is a major developmental dimension. Previous studies examined developmental change in instructed inhibition. The current study, however, focused on intentional inhibition. We examined heart rate responses to intentional action and inhibition, with a focus on developmental differences. Three age groups (8–10, 11–12, and 18–26 years) performed a child‐friendly marble paradigm in which they had to choose between intentionally acting on, or inhibiting, a prepotent response. As instructed, all age groups chose to intentionally inhibit on approximately 50 percent of the intentional trials. A pronounced heart rate deceleration was observed during both intentional action and intentional inhibition, but this deceleration was most pronounced for intentional inhibition. Heart rate responses did not differentiate between age groups, suggesting that intentional action and inhibition reach mature levels early in childhood.