Decoding human response inhibition: evidence from GPi and thalamic electrophysiology during a go/no-go task

The globus pallidus internus (GPi), a critical output structure of the basal ganglia, plays a central role in motor control by facilitating or inhibiting cortical commands through its connections with the thalamus. This study investigates the involvement of the GPi and thalamus in inhibitory processes during a Go/No-Go task in six patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for dystonia or Tourette syndrome. Local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded from externalized DBS electrodes prior to pulse generator implantation. In line with recent computational models of the basal ganglia, we hypothesized differential activity in the GPi for Go and No-Go stimuli, reflecting its role in inhibitory functions. Our findings revealed distinct averaged LFP patterns in the GPi and thalamus to Go and No-Go stimuli, and in addition pronounced differences in beta-band time–frequency activity. These findings provide direct electrophysiological evidence for the GPi’s involvement in proactive inhibition which paves the way for more fine-grained analyses of inhibitory functions.