Shifts in frontal asymmetry underlying impulsive and controlled decision-making.

The frontal cortices are asymmetrically activated in impulsive and inhibitory action. However, no past work has examined shifts in frontal asymmetric activation during active impulse control or risk-taking behavior. The current study examined impulsive and controlled behavior in a behavioral risk-taking task (Balloon Analogue Risk Task) under alcohol or neutral cue exposure while EEG was recorded. Results revealed activity shifted towards greater relative left frontal activation on alcohol trials with impulsive behavior (balloon explosion) driven by reduced activation of the right inferior frontal gyrus. In contrast, activity from the first half to the second half of alcohol trials with successful impulse control (cash out) localized to reduced activation of the left inferior frontal gyrus. These findings suggest that shifting of right or left frontal asymmetry in inhibitory or impulsive behaviors stem from activation of the inferior frontal gyrus and reveal the importance of examining shifts in neural activity during behavioral processes.