Based on theories of adolescent neurobiological vulnerability to drug use and dependence (Moffit, 1993; Tarter et al., 2003) as well as models of adolescent brain development (Casey et al., 2008; Chambers et al., 2003; Steinberg, 2008), we expected impulsivity as assessed by both sensation seeking and failure to act without thinking to be positively related to early initiation of risk behaviors and to externalizing and internalizing problems. We also expected ECFs, especially working memory ability and indicators of reward processing, to be inversely related to impulsivity, early initiation of risk behaviors, and externalizing/internalizing problems. In addition, based on Tarter’s model, we expected externalizing problems to be related to risk taking apart from impulsivity.
