Impulsivity is related to striatal dopamine transporter availability in healthy males

Impulsivity characterises various psychiatric disorders, particularly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Evidence shows that ADHD symptoms are associated with dopamine dysfunction and alleviated with methylphenidate, a drug that reduces dopamine transporter availability. ADHD-like symptoms and impulsive traits are continuously distributed across the general population. Here, we aimed to investigate the dopaminergic basis of impulsivity and other ADHD-related traits in healthy individuals by studying the association of these traits with striatal dopamine transporter availability. Single-photon emission computed tomography with [123I] FP-CIT was performed on 38 healthy males. Impulsivity was measured using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). We found that greater dopamine transporter availability was associated with higher BIS impulsivity but not with ADHD-related traits. The association with BIS was significant after accounting for individual differences in age and neuroticism. These results suggest that individual differences in the dopamine system may be a neural correlate of trait impulsivity in healthy individuals.