Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: August 11, 2015
The neurobiology of impulsivity and substance use disorders: implications for treatment
Karolina Kozak1,2,3, Aliya M Lucatch1, Darby J E Lowe1
1Addictions Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
Impulsivity is strongly associated with substance use disorders (SUDs). Our review discusses impulsivity as an underlying vulnerability marker for SUDs, and treatment of co-occurring impulsivity in SUDs. Three factors should be considered for the complex relationship between impulsivity and a SUD: (1) the trait effect of impulsivity, centering on decreased cognitive and response inhibition, (2) the state effect resulting from either acute or chronic substance use on brain structure and function, and (3) the genetic and environmental factors (e.g., age and sex) may influence impulsive behavior associated with SUDs. Both subjective and objective measures are used to assess impulsivity. Together, treatment developments (pharmacological, behavioral, and neurophysiological) should consider these clinically relevant dimensions assessed by a variety of measures, which have implications for treatment matching in individuals with SUD. Despite its heterogeneity, impulsivity is a marker associated with SUDs and may be understood as an imbalance of bottom-up and top-down neural systems. Further investigation of these relationships may lead to more effective SUD treatments.
Related Concept Videos
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Impulse
Additionally, it can be shown that the...
Impulse Response
Kirchhoff's law forms an input signal equation, with the capacitor's current and voltage providing the output. Substituting the current and dividing by RC yields a differential equation. The output for an impulse input is the impulse...
Deleterious Substances in Aggregate
Another type of impurity is clay and fine material that...
Principle of Impulse and Moment

