Van Biervliet lecture* | Birte Forstmann (University of Amsterdam), invited by Ruth Krebs

Multi-study fMRI outlooks on subcortical BOLD responses in the stop-signal paradigm

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approaches have frequently used the stop-signal task (SST) to examine cortico-basal ganglia networks. Here, we merged five such datasets, using a novel aggregatory method allowing the unification of raw fMRI data across different scanner sites. In this talk, I will present a meta-analysis, along with other recent aggregatory fMRI studies, showing that there is no evidence for the innervation of the hyperdirect or indirect cortico-basal-ganglia pathways in successful response inhibition. Instead large subcortical activity profiles for failed stop trials were found. I will discuss possible explanations for the mismatch of findings between the fMRI results presented here and results from other research modalities that have implicated nodes of the basal ganglia in successful inhibition.
 
* In addition to the more regular CCN talks, we are organizing special Van Biervliet lectures, inviting well-known scientists to present their work. This is an excellent opportunity for scientific exchange, especially for young researchers in our Faculty, and also increases visibility of the CCN and our work. Jules Van Biervliet (1859-1945) was the first psychologist at Ghent University. He came from a family of well-known medical doctors. Jules was a doctor in arts and philosophy, candidate in medicine and doctor in physical sciences. In 1890, he was a professor in metaphysics and psychology at Ghent University. A year later, he founded a laboratory for Experimental Psychology at Ghent University, the first in Belgium and one of the first in Europe. To prepare for this, he went for training to the laboratory of Wilhelm Wundt in Leipzig. He also inspired Binet in the development of the first intelligence test.