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In a rich environment, with multiple action affordances, selective action inhibition is critical in preventing the execution of inappropriate responses. Here, we studied the origin and the dynamics of incorrect response inhibition and how it can be modulated by task demands. We used EEG in a conflict task where the probability of compatible and incompatible trials was varied. This allowed us to modulate the strength of the prepotent response, and hence to increase the risk of errors, while keeping the probability of the two responses equal. The correct response activation and execution was not affected by compatibility or by probability. In contrast, incorrect response inhibition in the primary motor cortex ipsilateral to the correct response was more pronounced on incompatible trials, especially in the condition where most of the trials were compatible, indicating a modulation of inhibitory strength within the course of the action. Two prefrontal activities, one medial and one lateral, were also observed before the response, and their potential links with the observed inhibitory pattern observed are discussed.

Our main goal in this chapter is to present a method that allows us to examine the proficiency of response inhibition in behavioral (reaction time) data. We review two examples in which we use an analytical technique known as delta-plot analysis to highlight the role of response inhibition in resolving response conflict. The first study is on individual differences in resolving response conflict and included subjects in the normal population. In the second experiment, delta plots were used to mark inhibitory deficits in children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). First, we briefly introduce the conflict paradigm.

When an on board system detects a drift of a vehicle to the left or to the right in what way should the information be delivered to the driver? Car manufacturers have so far neglected relevant results from Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. Here we show that this situation possibly led to the sub optimal design of a lane departure warning system (AFIL PSA Peugeot Citroen) implemented in commercially available automobile vehicles. Twenty participants performed a two choice reaction time task in which they were to respond by clockwise or counter clockwise wheel rotations to tactile stimulations of their left or right wrist. They performed poorer when responding counter clockwise to the right vibration and clockwise to the left vibration (incompatible mapping) than when responding according to the reverse (compatible) mapping. This suggests that AFIL implements the worse (incompatible) mapping for the operators. This effect depended on initial practice with the interface. The present research illustrates how basic approaches in Cognitive Science may benefit to Human Factors Engineering and ultimately improve man machine interfaces and show how initial learning can affect interference effects.