( ith ADHD are actually slower on the ‘go...)Racing neurons control whether we stop or go

In the race model, "go" and "stop" processes independently race one another ?whichever one crosses the finish line first determines whether a movement is made or not. Though the model accurately explains behavior, it left neuroscientists scratching their heads. Their work found that "go" and "stop" processes are produced through a complex network of interacting neurons. If so, then how could "go" and "stop?be acting independently as required by the race model?

"The model proposes that there are two processes happening in our brain, one making us ‘go?and another making us ‘stop,? Boucher, a postdoctoral fellow, said. "However, as neurophysiologists, we know these processes are intricately linked, not independent. Our goal with this paper was to resolve that paradox."

To answer this question, the researchers applied the independent race model to existing data from experiments that monitored brain activity in monkeys while they were performing a visual stop signal task. In those experiments, the monkeys were taught to look at a visual target unless a stop signal came on, in which case they were supposed to refrain from looking at the target.

"We knew that the neurons responsible for the ‘go?and ‘stop?actions were located in the parts of the brain that control movements," Boucher said. "Each trial began with the illumination of a target in the periphery that the subject was supposed to look at. This is when the ‘go?unit was activated. Sometimes a ‘stop?signal came on and the subject had to inhibit their eye movement. This is when the ‘stop?unit was activated."

The researchers found that the results predicted by the model and those shown by the neural activity matched.

"For most of the race, ‘stop?and ‘go?act independently. ‘Stop?interacts with ‘go?very briefly—it basically has one chan
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Source:Vanderbilt University