Inhibition is a process by which a particular response is suppressed or prevented. It is an important part of neural functioning, as it helps to control the flow of information within the brain and to regulate behavior. Inhibition can be divided into two broad categories: active inhibition and passive inhibition.
Active inhibition involves actively preventing a response from occurring, such as when a person is presented with a stimulus and consciously chooses not to respond to it. Passive inhibition is an unconscious process where a response is suppressed without any conscious effort, such as when a person is presented with a stimulus but does not respond to it because of a lack of awareness.
Inhibition is an important part of learning and memory. It allows us to focus on relevant information and ignore irrelevant information. It helps us to control our behavior and to remember important details. Inhibition also plays a role in decision making, as it helps to prevent us from making rash decisions and instead allows us to carefully consider the consequences of our actions.
Inhibition is closely related to other cognitive processes such as attention and working memory. Attention is the ability to focus on relevant stimuli and ignore irrelevant stimuli, and working memory is the ability to store and recall information. Both of these processes rely on inhibition in order to function properly.
Inhibition is also an important part of emotional regulation. It helps to control our emotions and to regulate our behavior in response to them. Inhibition can help us to remain calm in difficult situations and to prevent us from acting impulsively.
There is a great deal of research being done on inhibition, as it has important implications for cognitive and emotional functioning. For further reading, please see the following journal articles:
1. Wager, T.D. & Peterson, E.S. (2013). Inhibitory control and emotion regulation: An integrative review. Trends in Cognitive Science, 17(7), 320-332.
2. Botvinick, M.M., Braver, T.S., Barch, D.M., Carter, C.S., & Cohen, J.D. (2001). Conflict monitoring and cognitive control. Psychological Review, 108(3), 624-652.
3. Monsell, S. (2003). Task switching. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 7(3), 134-140.
4. Kerns, J.G., Cohen, J.D., MacDonald, A.W., III, Cho, R.Y., Stenger, V.A., & Carter, C.S. (2004). Anterior cingulate conflict monitoring and adjustments in control. Science, 303(5660), 1023-1026.
5. Egner, T. & Hirsch, J. (2005). Cognitive control mechanisms: A cognitive-neuroscience perspective. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9(7), 287-293.