ABSTRACT
Choice impulsivity implies a tendency to accept small immediate or likely rewards at the expense of large delayed or unlikely rewards. Plagued by significant differences of opinion regarding its definition and measurement, impulsivity is a complex construct. It is generally uncontested, however, that there are at least two different components to impulsivity: ‘action’ or ‘rapid-response’ impulsivity, and ‘choice’ or ‘cognitive’ impulsivity. An added benefit of using personality traits as end-points comes from the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of personality assessment tools. A central issue in personality research concerns the latent structure of personality traits and their links to psychological constructs and specific neural systems. Action impulsivity can be further separated into two conceptually and neurobiologically distinct impairments in inhibitory processes: action initiation impulsivity, and ongoing or prepotent action impulsivity. Impulsivity is defined as a predisposition toward rapid, unplanned reactions to internal or external stimuli with little regard for the negative consequences to the individual or others.
