Biological Basis Found for Risky and Impulsive Behavior

Risk takers and impulsive people need more than willpower to change their ways. A Vanderbilt study published in today’s issue of the Journal of Neuroscience shows that the way the body produces dopamine is related to a desire for new and different experiences.

Dopamine plays a central role in our feeling of excitement and anticipation of reward. The study’s lead author, neuroscientist David Zald, says people who are more likely to seek out new experiences tend to release more of the chemical. He gives the example of someone with average skills trying to decide whether to ski down an expert slope.

“There are two things that have to come into play. One, ‘how much I think this is gonna be fun, how cool I think this is gonna be,’ as well as considerations of, ‘well, I could hurt myself,’ and these individuals we think there’s such a strong signal of ‘this could be fun’ that it sort of just pushes aside any concerns about risk.”

Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines affect dopamine receptors. Zald says that puts people with novelty-seeking personalities at increased risk for drug abuse and other unsafe behaviors.