Abstract:

Impulsivity is one of the core symptoms in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, such asattention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance abuse, and pathological gambling. Evidence shows that dopaminergic system in fronto-striatal circuitries is implicated in impulsivity, however, the mechanism of dopamine in regulating impulsivity is not well established. Recent studies in rodents investigating the contribution of dopaminergic system to distinct forms of impulsivity shows that the mechanisms of dopamine mediating in impulsivity may have three factors, (1) impulsivity is not a unitary structure, the multifaceted concept of impulsivity implies that the role of dopamine will be differed at different subtypes; (2) in the studying of neuropharmacology of impulsivity, dopaminergic and other neurotransmitter systems interact across different brain areas to modulate different aspects of impulsivity, and (3) there are other factors that involve in impulsivity, such as individual differences and environmental cues.

Key words: impulsivity, dopamine, impulsive action, impulsive choice, fronto-striatal circuitries