Cardinal R N, Pennicott D R, Sugathapala C L, Robbins T W, Everitt B J
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK.
Science. 2001 Jun 29;292(5526):2499-501. doi: 10.1126/science.1060818. Epub 2001 May 24.
Impulsive choice is exemplified by choosing a small or poor reward that is available immediately, in preference to a larger but delayed reward. Impulsive choice contributes to drug addiction, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mania, and personality disorders, but its neuroanatomical basis is unclear. Here, we show that selective lesions of the nucleus accumbens core induce persistent impulsive choice in rats. In contrast, damage to two of its afferents, the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex, had no effect on this capacity. Thus, dysfunction of the nucleus accumbens core may be a key element in the neuropathology of impulsivity.
冲动选择的例证是，选择即刻可得的小奖励或差奖励，而不是更大但延迟的奖励。冲动选择会导致药物成瘾、注意力缺陷多动障碍、躁狂症和人格障碍，但其神经解剖学基础尚不清楚。在这里，我们表明，伏隔核核心的选择性损伤会导致大鼠持续的冲动选择。相比之下，其两个传入神经，即前扣带回皮质和内侧前额叶皮质受损，对这种能力没有影响。因此，伏隔核核心功能障碍可能是冲动性神经病理学的关键因素。
