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GoStop Impulsivity Paradigm

The GoStop Impulsivity Paradigm is a "stop task" designed to measure response inhibition.  The primary response of interest here is the failure to inhibit responding when a "go" cue is unexpectedly accompanied by a "stop" cue.

In this task, 5-digit numbers are presented in rapid sequence.  Half of these numbers are target trials (matching stimuli) and half are filler trials (novel stimuli).  This task features stop" trials for half of all target trials, where the matching number presented in black (the go cue) changes to red (the stop cue) at intervals ranging from 50 to 350 msec after the stimulus presentation.  Participants are instructed to response while the matching number is still on the monitor, but not to respond if that number turns red.  The main impulsivity variable obtained from this task is the percentage of inhibition failures, which is calculated from the number of responses made to stop trials divided by the total number of stop trials.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

A test of alcohol dose effects on multiple behavioral measures of impulsivity.
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Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 96, 111-120.

Behavioral phenotypes of impulsivity related to the ANKK1 gene are independent of an acute stressor.
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Behavioral and Brain Functions, 4, 54.

The relationship between impulsivity and internet addication in a sample of Chinese adolescents.
Cao, F., Su, L., Liu, T., and Gao, X.   (2007).   
European Psychiatry, 22, 466-471. 

Laboratory and self-report assessment of impulsive behavior in adolescent daily smokers and nonsmokers.
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Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 15, 264-271. 

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Dougherty, D. M., Mathias, C. W., Marsh, D. M., and Jagar, A. A. (2005).  
Behavior Research Methods, 37, 82-90.

Suicidal behaviors and drug abuse: Impulsivity and its assessment.
Dougherty, D. M., Mathias, C. W., Marsh, D.M., Moeller, F.G., and Swann, A. C. (2004).
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 76, 93s-105s. 

Behavioral impulsivity paradigms: A comparison in hospitalized adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders. 
Dougherty, D. M., Bjork, J. M., Harper, R. A., Marsh, D. M., Moeller, F. G., Mathias, C. W., and Swann, A. C. (2003). 
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44, 1145-1157. 

Comparison of women with high and low trait impulsivity using laboratory impulsivity models of response-disinhibition and reward-choice.
Marsh, D. M., Dougherty, D. M., Mathias, C. W., Moeller, F. G., andHicks, L. R.  (2002). 
Personality and Individual Differences, 33, 1291-1310.

Laboratory measures of impulsivity in hospitalized adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders. 
Bjork, J. M., Dougherty, D. M., Moeller, F. G., Harper, R. A., Scott-Gurnell, K., and Swann, A. C.  (2000).
Biological Psychiatry, 47, 489.