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Linking ADHD, Impulsivity, and Drug Abuse: A Neuropsychological Perspective

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Book cover Behavioral Neuroscience of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Treatment

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 9))

Abstract

In this chapter, we consider the relevance of impulsivity as both a psychological construct and endophenotype underlying attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and drug addiction. The case for executive dysfunction in ADHD and drug addiction is critically reviewed in the context of dissociable cognitive control processes mediated by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the orbital and ventral medial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC). We argue that such neuroanatomical divisions within the prefrontal cortex are likely to account for the multidimensional basis of impulsivity conceptually categorized in terms of “motoric” and “choice” impulsivity. The relevance of this distinction for the etiology of ADHD and drug addiction is integrated within a novel theoretical framework. This scheme embraces animal learning theory to help explain the heterogeneity of impulse control disorders, which are exemplified by ADHD as a vulnerability disorder for drug addiction.

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Abbreviations

5-CSRTT:

5-Choice serial reaction time task

5-HT:

5-Hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)

ADHD:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

CR:

Conditioned reinforcer

DA:

Dopamine

DAT:

Dopamine transporter

DLPFC:

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

DRL:

Differential response to low rates of reinforcement

fMRI:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

IFG:

Inferior frontal gyrus

IL:

Infralimbic (cortex)

mPFC:

Medial prefrontal cortex

NAcb:

Nucleus accumbens

O:

Outcome

OFC:

Orbitofrontal cortex

PET:

Positron emission tomography

PIT:

Pavlovian to instrumental transfer

R:

Response

RD :

Response followed by a delayed outcome

RI :

Response followed by an immediate outcome

S:

Stimulus

SN:

Substantia nigra

SSRT:

Stop-signal reaction time

SST:

Stop-signal task

TMS:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

VMPFC:

Ventromedial prefrontal cortex

VTA:

Ventral tegmental area

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Wellcome Trust Programme Grant (089589/Z/09/Z) awarded to T.W. Robbins, B. J. Everitt, A. C. Roberts, B.J. Sahakian, and JWD, MRC grants to B.J. Everitt (G0600196) and JWD (G0401068, G0701500) and by the European Community’s Sixth Framework Programme (“Imagen” LSNM-CT-2007-037286). GPU was supported by a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship (PIEF-GA-2009-237608) awarded by the European Commission. This review reflects only the authors’ views and the European Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. The authors thank Andrea Bari for insightful discussions. Figure 1 was adapted from best-lemming, brain, Google SketchUp 3D warehouse, http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=bdde6508945af6e2a4dd6527f4a3f142 (accessed 8 July, 2010).

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  1. Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK

    Gonzalo P. Urcelay

  2. Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Experimental Psychology & Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK

    Jeffrey W. Dalley

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  1. Gonzalo P. Urcelay
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  2. Jeffrey W. Dalley
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Correspondence to Jeffrey W. Dalley .

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  1. , Dept of Neurosci, Physiol & Pharmacol, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E6BT, United Kingdom

    Clare Stanford

  2. , Human Development & Applied Psychology, The Ontario Institute for Studies in Edu, Bloor Street West 252, Toronto, M5S1V6, Canada

    Rosemary Tannock

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Urcelay, G.P., Dalley, J.W. (2011). Linking ADHD, Impulsivity, and Drug Abuse: A Neuropsychological Perspective. In: Stanford, C., Tannock, R. (eds) Behavioral Neuroscience of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Treatment. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2011_119

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