Melissa A. Cyders, Ph.D.
Professor
Research
Multidimensionality of Impulsivity
My research examines the multi-faceted trait of impulsivity and its role in risk-taking behaviors. Impulsivity is best understood as a set of distinct yet related traits. My work supports the UPPS-P Model of Impulsive Behavior, which identified five components:
- Sensation seeking: the tendency to seek out new and exciting experiences and sensation
- Lack of perseverance: the tendency to not complete tasks
- Lack of deliberation: the tendency to act without sufficient forethought
- Negative urgency: the tendency to act rashly during negative emotions
- Positive urgency: the tendency to act rashly during positive emotions
My research demonstrates that using these specific traits improves our ability to predict risk-taking behavior. Findings also indicate that impulsivity traits and laboratory behavioral measures often capture different constructs, suggesting that precise terminology and trait-specific approaches are essential for understanding impulsive behavior.
Emotion-Based Impulsivity and Maladaptive Risk Taking
My work identifies emotion-driven impulsivity – particularly negative and positive urgency – as key contributors to a range of maladaptive behaviors, including substance use, gambling, binge eating, and other forms of risky behaviors. Urgency appears across multiple diagnostic categories and may serve as a shared characteristic underlying various clinical conditions. This transdiagnostic approach may help identify individuals at risk and inform the development of treatments targeting emotion-based rash action. Understanding urgency as a psychological trait could lead to improved prevention and intervention strategies across mental health conditions.
Neurobiological and Neurocognitive Mechanisms
Recent studies in my lab investigate the brain and cognitive processes underlying emotion-based rash action. Using behavioral measures and neuroimaging techniques, we examine how urgency relates to emotional and reward processing. Findings suggest that negative urgency is associated with increased neural activation in limbic and reward-related regions when responding to emotional or motivational cues. This neural hyperreactivity may help explain how emotional states contribute to impulsive and risky decisions.
Applications for Prevention and Treatment
Subsequent work translated these findings into applied research for prevention and treatment settings. We examined how impulsivity-related traits affected substance use treatment outcomes and identified psychological and emotional factors influencing recovery. We have studied predictors of long-term recovery among individuals with Opioid Use Disorder, including impulsivity, emotional states, treatment approaches, and barriers to care. The goal of this work is to inform prevention and intervention programs that could be effectively implemented across a broad range of community settings.
Education
- 2003 B.A. Psychology, Ohio University
- 2003 B.A. Spanish, Ohio University
- 2005 M.S. Clinical Psychology, University of Kentucky
- 2009 Clinical Psychology Internship, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and the University of Michigan Medical School
- 2009 Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Kentucky
Publications
See Dr. Cyders' complete list of publications on Google Scholar.