The Information Processing Flexibility of Individuals with Obsessive- Compulsive Tendency: An Event-related Potentials Study

Background Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common clinical psychological disease. A large number of studies have shown that OCD patients have cognitive dysfunction, mainly in attention, decision-making, information processing, and so on. Previous studies of OCD information processing focus on processing ways, but studies of its flexibility are limited. As information processing flexibility is a component of executive function and OCD patients have a deficiency in executive function, information processing flexibility could indirectly reflect that OCD patients may be insufficient in information processing flexibility. Hence, we must explore its characteristics in flexible information processing. Methods To eliminate the effects of other comorbid factors, we use the Padua Inventory to screen high obsessive-compulsive tendency (HOC) and low obsessive-compulsive tendency (LOC) individuals as the research object university students. The final sample includes 16 HOC and 15 LOC participants. To make the experiment more in line with ecological validity, the study used a single probability-adjusted Flanker task (i.e., a cue of 20%, 50%, and 80% probability was given before each trial)， combined with an ERP study to investigate information processing flexibility and its corresponding brain mechanisms in individuals with obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Results (1)In the stage of cue presentation, there were no significant differences in P2 (150-250) among individuals with HOC under the three cue probability conditions, but there were significant differences among those with LOC. In the stage of stimulus presentation, there were no significant differences in N2 (100-200) and N3 (250-300) components among individuals with HOC under the three cues, while there were significant differences among those with LOC, and the amplitudes under 80% probability conditions were greater than those under 20% probability conditions; (2)The N2 amplitude of individuals with LOC under effective cues was significantly greater than that under ineffective cues, while there was no significant differences among individuals with HOC. Conclusion Individuals with HOC were less responsive to situational changes and had defects in information processing flexibility, while individuals with LOC were more flexible in information processing, which was manifested in both the cue presentation stage and the stimulus response stage;Individuals with HOC were not easily affected by cues and less strategic in regulating and controlling information processing.