In spite of its relevance for the interpretation of many psychopathological and neuropsychological disorders, the concept of impulsivity is still poorly defined. Recently, several authors have conceptualised impulsivity as a multi-dimensional construct involving different psychological and brain mechanisms. The aim of this paper is to show how a multi-component approach to impulsivity and its underlying motivational and cognitive mechanisms may contribute to our understanding of various psychopathological states and neuropsychological impairments.