Citation

Herman AM, Duka T. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 2018; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK; Sussex Addiction and Intervention Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK. Electronic address: t.duka@sussex.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.08.011

PMID

30343823

Abstract

Alcohol misuse is a major public concern. Impulsivity has been recognised as a significant risk factor predisposing for the initiation of alcohol use, continuation and excessive alcohol use. Evidence suggests that impulsivity is also a result of both acute alcohol intoxication and long-term alcohol abuse. The multifaceted character of impulsivity and the various ways of assessing it in humans and animal models, hampers the full understanding of how impulsivity relates to alcohol use and misuse. Therefore, in this review we evaluate recent developments in the field, trying to disentangle the contribution of different impulsivity subtypes as causes and effects of alcohol use. Moreover, we review a growing body of evidence, including brain imaging, suggesting the importance of emotional states in engaging in alcohol consumption, particularly in highly impulsive individuals. We also present recent insights into how emotional processing is manifested in alcoholism and binge drinking and suggest novel approaches to treatment and prevention opportunities which target emotional-regulation as well as emotional perception and insight.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Alcoholism; Alexithymia; Arousal; Binge drinking; Insula; Interoception; Mindfulness