Mapping emotion-modulated inhibitory control in borderline personality features: a dimensional approach using the emotional Go/No-Go task with EEG

To explore how emotional-modulated inhibitory control, as assessed by the emotional Go/No-Go task and EEG, correlates with the multidimensional profile of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Eighty-two participants completed the Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Features (PAI-BOR), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. EEG was recorded during an emotional Go/No-Go task and event-related potential (ERP) components were analyzed for correlations with BPD features. Participants were then divided into groups with or without BPD features, and comparisons of ERP components were then made within groups. ERP analysis revealed BPD features correlations with brain activity. Affective instability was positively correlated with left frontal N2 during positive-neutral No-Go trials. Self-harm was associated with left frontal late positive potential(LPP) during negative-neutral Go trials. Left frontal and central LPP slightly related to identity problems. 32 participants grouped into participants with BPD features(the BPF group) showed more depression, anxiety, emotional instability, identity issues, self-harm, and interpersonal problems. The BPF group had impaired performance on No-Go trials, smaller N2 amplitudes at left frontal channels during negative emotional cues, and delayed N2 peak latency. A group-trial type interaction was observed, with higher LPP amplitudes in Go trials for the control group but not in the BPF group, indicating distinct emotion processing between the BPF and control groups. The findings of this study propose that there are neural associations among affective instability, self-harm, and identity problems in BPD, which are consistent with the neural foundation of emotion-modulated inhibitory control observed in the emotional Go/No-Go task. The lack of association between negative sociality and ERP components highlights the complex nature of social information processing in BPD. Moreover, significant emotional, cognitive, and neural differences are also observed between the BPF and control groups. These results enhance understanding of how emotional valence modulates inhibitory control processes in individuals with varying levels of BPF.