Impulsivity and Binge Drinking: A Neurocognitive Perspective (chapter 35)

Binge drinking (BD), an alcohol-consumption pattern characterized by frequent alternations between intense intakes and withdrawal periods, is a widespread habit in youth. It has been shown that BD is linked to impairments in psychological, cognitive, and cerebral abilities. Previous studies notably underlined that impulsivity-related mechanisms might play a pivotal role in the emergence and maintenance of BD. This chapter underlines the importance of impulsivity in BD, by proposing a literature review organized around a theoretical framework distinguishing four impulsivity subcomponents (urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking) and by identifying the (neuro-)psychological and cerebral correlates of each subcomponent. Then, the main challenges for future research are discussed, particularly underlining the need for a multidisciplinary approach to explore the links between impulsivity and other cognitive factors, the causal relationships between BD and impulsive subcomponents, and the interindividual variations of impulsive tendencies in BD.