Genomic Imaging of Personality: Towards a Molecular Neurobiology of Impulsivity

Research on the biological basis of personality has made large leaps forward with the application of noninvasive neuroimaging methods and, most recently, with molecular genetic studies of common variations in genetic nucleotide sequences that are associated with personality traits (Canli, 2004; Canli, 2006a). In this review, we will introduce the reader to these methodologies, as they are applied to investigations of the personality trait of impulsivity. We begin with a discussion of the current limitations of impulsivity as a construct in personality research and in clinical psychology. These limitations motivate research on the biological basis of impulsivity, using both non-invasive neuroimaging and molecular genetic approaches. We ...