| Abstract: | Genetic variation may play a significant role in the expression of complex personality
and psychological traits. This article examines the relationship between
heritable biological mechanisms and the psychological trait, impulsivity. In particular,
dopamine is proposed to play a role in impulsive behaviours, and numerous
studies have implicated functional polymorphisms of dopamine-related
genes in impulsivity. This article reviews several studies concerning the role of
dopamine receptor (DRD4) polymorphisms in the expression of an impulsivity
sub-trait known as “novelty seeking”. Furthermore, this article focuses on recent
approaches to the study of genetic variation, approaches to the measurement of
novelty seeking, as well as other possible regulators of the trait in addition to
genetics. |