An investigation into the role of impulsivity in addiction

Abstract

Impulsivity typically refers to actions made without sufficient forethought or consideration of their consequences. This dissertation focuses on the neural underpinnings of this trait from a perspective of a striatal-based reward anticipation system interacting with a prefrontal-centred inhibitory control mechanism. That is to say, impulsivity might stem from the relationship between reward-seeking drives and behavioural control mechanisms that attempt to exert control over such drives. Drug-addicted populations tend to show elevated levels of impulsivity on a number of measures, suggesting that disruptions to any identified impulsivity neural network might exist within such populations.