Neurochemical substrates linked to impulsive and compulsive phenotypes in addiction: A preclinical perspective

Drug compulsion manifests in some but not all individuals and implicates multifaceted processes including failures top-down cognitive control as drivers for the hazardous pursuit of drug use individuals. As a closely related construct, impulsivity encompasses rash or risky behaviour without foresight underlies most forms taking behaviour, during adverse emotional states (i.e., negative urgency). While impulsive behavioural dimensions emerge from drug-induced brain plasticity, burgeoning evidence suggests that also predates emergence compulsive use. Although neural substrates underlying apparently causal relationship between trait are poorly understood, significant advances have come interrogation defined limbic cortico-striatal circuits involved motivated response inhibition, together with chemical neuromodulatory influences ascending neurotransmitter systems. We review what is presently known about neurochemical mediation impulsivity, its various forms, ask whether commonalities exist neurochemistry drug-motivated behaviours might explain individual risk addiction.