Go and NoGo: modulation of electrophysiological correlates by female sex steroid hormones

Rationale The behavioral and electrophysiological responses in a Go/NoGo task are objective measures of executive functioning that may be impaired in clinical conditions. Prior to the wider application of Go/NoGo tasks in clinics, it is tempting to evaluate factors causing modulation of the responses. Objective We aimed to evaluate the effect of different levels of female sex steroids on Go/NoGo task-related ERPs in healthy females. Methods Thirty-four young healthy females performed an equiprobable (50/50) auditory Go/NoGo task. Amplitudes and latencies of N2 and P3 peaks from Fz, Cz, and Pz electrodes were evaluated. 17β-estradiol and progesterone levels in saliva samples were measured. Electrophysiological measures were correlated to 17β-estradiol and progesterone concentrations. Results The diverse pattern of modulation of P3 latencies was shown: higher levels of 17β-estradiol contributed to Go-P3 latency prolongation, and higher levels of progesterone contributed to NoGo-P3 latency shortening. Higher levels of 17β-estradiol were associated with more negative frontal N2 amplitude in both conditions. Conclusions The relationship between electrophysiological correlates of executive functioning to individual hormonal levels points to a broader range of variation sources in healthy subjects which might mask or pronounce between-group differences in clinical studies.