Research progress on cognitive electrophysiological characteristics and multidimensional predictive strategies of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: A review

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common yet covert mental health problem among adolescents. Recent advances in cognitive neuroscience suggest that NSSI is not only associated with difficulties in emotion regulation but also involves abnormalities in multiple cognitive systems, including executive control and social cognition. Evidence suggests that individuals with NSSI often exhibit congnitive impairments in areas such as sensory gating, automatic attentional processing, and cognitive control. Event-related potential (ERP) components such as P50, mismatch negativity (MMN), and P3b reflect neural processes related to early information filtering, change detection, and executive control, while tasks such as the Stroop and N-back paradigms provide behavioral evidence of these deficits. Multimodal predictive models integrating electroencephalographic indicators, cognitive-behavioral measures, and psychosocial variables have recently shown potential advantages in identifying individuals at high risk for NSSI. Stratified intervention strategies based on cognitive characteristics may further support early identification and targeted intervention. However, current evidence is limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous paradigms, and the use of transdiagnostic samples. Future studies should expand sample sizes and standardize assessment indicators to clarify the value of neurocognitive markers in predicting NSSI risk and guiding targeted interventions.