<p>PhD Thesis - Utrecht University</p>
<p>September 8, 2011</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The overall aim of this thesis was to increase the understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying proactive inhibition (preparing for stopping) and reactive inhibition (stopping outright) and how these mechanisms are affected in schizophrenia. First, our findings suggest that the rIFC is involved in reactive inhibition only, whereas the SMC and the striatum are engaged both in proactive and reactive inhibition. Therefore, our findings appear to challenge the common view that the whole neural network involved in outright stopping is recruited in anticipation of stopping. Second, our results provide insight into the mechanism underlying reactive inhibition, indicating that the rIFC exerts inhibitory control over M1 via a cortico-basal ganglia pathway that includes the SMC and the right striatum. Third, our findings suggest that reduced proactive inhibition in schizophrenia is associated with striatal dysfunction, possibly reflecting striatal dopaminergic abnormalities.</p
