Why impulsive men behave aggressively

According to a new study, impulsive men behave aggressively, in part, because they have lower levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter, in a specific part of their brain involved in regulating self-control.

The scientific team found that men with more GABA in their dorsolateral prefrontal cortex had lower scores in one aspect of impulsivity called the “feeling of urgency”, the tendency to act rashly in response to distress or other strong emotions and urges. Inversely, men with lower GABA tended to have higher urgency ratings.

Impulsive men tend to display aggressive behaviour and have challenges ranging from drug and alcohol abuse, to problem gambling and difficult relationships.

These findings have been published in the Biological Psychiatry.