Losing Control in Controlled Settings: Preclinical Human Research on Impulsivity Within the Context of Addiction

Abstract

Abstract Purpose of Review Impulsivity has long been recognized as a risk factor for addiction. The mechanisms through which impulsivity increases risk remain unclear, hindering development of effective impulsivity-targeted addiction treatments. Preclinical human research is ideally placed to isolate these mechanisms because of the experimental control afforded by the laboratory. This review summarizes recent preclinical human studies on impulsivity and addiction that are focused on alcohol use or food consumption/overeating. Recent Findings The emergence of laboratory paradigms specifically modeling impulsive consumption is a promising development, especially paradigms capable of manipulating impulsivity to test causation. Collectively, this evidence highlights the importance of reward mechanisms in impulsivity-related alcohol and food consumption. Summary Findings suggest that impulsivity-targeted addiction interventions may be enhanced by widening the current focus on disinhibition-related mechanisms to include reward drive. Preclinical models of impulsive consumption could be utilized to pilot candidate pharmacological and psychosocial therapeutics on causal mechanisms, informing the next generation of impulsivity-targeted treatment.