Mapping Emotional Dysregulation in Borderline Personality Features: A Dimensional Approach Using the Emotional Go/Nogo Task

Background To investigate the relationship between emotional dysregulation, as measured by the emotional go/nogo task, and the multidimensional profile of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Methods Eighty-two participants (32 BPD, 50 controls) completed the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. EEG was recorded during an emotional Go/Nogo task. Event-related potential (ERP) components were analyzed for correlations with BPD symptoms. Results 32 participants had BPD based on PAI scores. Compared to healthy controls, the BPD group had more depression, anxiety, emotional instability, identity disturbance, self - harm, and interpersonal issues. BPD group had lower cognitive inhibition task accuracy, although their reaction times were comparable to the control group. ERP analysis showed significant associations between BPD symptomatology and brain activity in specific scalp areas. Affective instability correlated positively with the left frontal lateral N2 during positive nogo cues. Self - harm was associated with the left frontal lateral LPP during negative go cues. The LPP component also showed a slight relationship with identity problems. Negative sociality, however, did not show significant associations with the ERP responses. Conclusion This study suggests neural correlations of affective instability, self-harm, and identity problems in BPD. The lack of association between negative sociality and ERP components shows BPD's complex social information processing. These findings demonstrate significant emotional, cognitive, and neural differences between BPD and healthy controls, offering insights into the neurobiological basis and potential interventions for BPD symptoms.