Impulsivity Derived From the Dark Side: Neurocircuits That Contribute to Negative Urgency

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Negative urgency, a facet of impulsivity, involves rash actions during extreme distress and impaired inhibitory control.
• This behavior is hypothesized to stem from stress during the negative affect stage of the addiction cycle.
• Compulsive drug use often serves to alleviate negative emotional states linked to abstinence or stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review empirical and conceptual advances in understanding the role of the addiction 'dark side' in negative urgency.
• To explore how negative urgency drives risky and detrimental substance use in addiction.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing empirical and conceptual literature on negative urgency and addiction.
• Examination of the neurocircuitry involved, particularly the central extended amygdala and corticotropin-releasing factor.

Main Results:

• Negative urgency is implicated in impulsive substance use, particularly when triggered by negative emotional states.
• Stress, anxiety, depression, and irritability frequently co-occur with addiction and can precipitate drug seeking.
• The neurobiological underpinnings involve key neuropeptides within the central extended amygdala.

Conclusions:

• The 'dark side' of addiction, characterized by negative urgency, significantly contributes to detrimental substance use.
• Understanding the interplay between negative emotional states, negative urgency, and addiction neurocircuitry is crucial for effective treatment.
• Targeting negative urgency mechanisms may offer novel therapeutic strategies for addiction.