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Are executive function and impulsivity antipodes? A conceptual reconstruction with special reference to addiction
Warren K Bickel1, David P Jarmolowicz, E Terry Mueller
1Addiction Recovery Research Center and Virginia Tech Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA. wkbickel@vtc.vt.edu
Psychopharmacology
|March 24, 2012
Summary
Impulsivity and executive function (EF) are conceptual antipodes, with each component of impulsivity having a counterpart in EF. Understanding this relationship can advance addiction research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Executive function (EF) and impulsivity are linked to addiction, yet research in these areas shows little overlap.
- Existing literature does not fully explore the relationship between EF and impulsivity components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if components of executive function (EF) and impulsivity are conceptual antipodes on a shared continuum.
- To investigate the relationship between EF and impulsivity in the context of behavioral problems like addiction.
Main Methods:
- Compared and contrasted definitions of EF and impulsivity components.
- Examined measurement methods for EF and impulsivity.
- Analyzed populations of drug users with deficits in these components.
- Compared neural substrates underlying EF and impulsivity.
Main Results:
- Each component of impulsivity was found to have an antipode within executive function (EF).
- Executive function (EF) encompasses a broader range of phenomena, including compulsivity.
- A clear relationship was identified between specific components of impulsivity and EF.
Conclusions:
- Impulsivity acts as an antipode to certain components of executive function (EF).
- Recognizing the EF-impulsivity relationship can enhance scientific understanding of addiction.
- This research has implications for theoretical frameworks in behavioral science.
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