Distinct Neurocognitive Fingerprints Reflect Differential Associations with Risky and Impulsive Behavior in a Neurotypical Sample

Research on neurocognitive deficits related to risky and impulsive behaviors has been limited by analytic approaches that treat neurocognitive components as functionally dissociable or that fail to adequately capture individual variability in function. In a neurotypical sample (N=673), we characterized neurocognition via a novel application of a Bayesian latent feature learning model – the Indian Buffet Process. All features were within a relatively normative range of neurocognition; however, subtle variability related to risky and impulsive behaviors. The relatively overall poorer neurocognition feature correlated with greater affective impulsivity and substance use patterns/problems. The poorer episodic memory and emotion feature correlated with greater trait externalizing and sensation-seeking. The poorer attention feature correlated with increased trait externalizing and negative urgency, but decreased positive urgency and substance use. Finally, average or mixed features negatively correlated with various outcomes. Estimating nuanced patterns of neurocognition can inform our understanding of a continuum of risky and impulsive behaviors.