Trait impulsivity components correlate differently with proactive and reactive control

PLoS One. 2017 Apr 19;12(4):e0176102. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176102. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The relationship between impulsivity and cognitive control is still unknown. We hypothesized that trait impulsivity would differentially correlate with specific cognitive control processes. Trait impulsivity was measured by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, which assesses motor, attention, and non-planning impulsiveness components. Cognitive control was measured by a hybrid-designed Stroop task, which distinguishes proactive and reactive control. Thirty-three participants performed the Stroop task while they were scanned by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Proactive and reactive control involved increased activity in the fronto-parietal network, and brain activity was associated with impulsivity scores. Specifically, higher motor impulsiveness was associated with a larger proactive control effect in the inferior parietal lobule and a smaller reactive control effect in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and anterior cingulate contex. Higher attention impulsivity was associated with a smaller proactive control effect in the right DLPFC. Such a correlation pattern suggests that impulsivity trait components are attributable to different cognitive control subsystems.

MeSH terms

  • Brain Mapping
  • Female
  • Gyrus Cinguli / anatomy & histology
  • Gyrus Cinguli / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior / physiology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Parietal Lobe / anatomy & histology
  • Parietal Lobe / physiology*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology*
  • Proactive Inhibition*
  • Psychological Tests
  • Reactive Inhibition*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSF 81671154), Natural Science Foundation of China (NSF 31571156), MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences (14YJC190007), MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences (12YJC190040), the Scientific Research Foundation of Graduate School of South China Normal University (2012kyjj107), and Foundation for Distinguished Young Talents in Higher Education of Guangdong, China (2012WYM_0041).