Choosing the smaller, less delayed reinforcers of drug abuse (including cessation of withdrawal) over the larger, more delayed reinforcers of a healthy life can be described as impulsiveness (the opposite of self-control). Examination of drug abuse using a self-control/impulsiveness framework can help explain many of the puzzles about this behavior, while tying drug abuse into a large research database.

The goal of therapy is often to increase the momentum (persistence) of self-control behaviors. Determining how best to accomplish this goal necessitates conducting behavioral momentum research under a wider variety of conditions.

There is both empirical evidence that supports, and does not support, the four basic tastes, as well as the labeled-line and across-fiber pattern theories. All of these concepts have proven useful to researchers investigating taste coding, and should be appreciated for their heuristic value. Dismissal of any of them is neither supported by evidence nor productive.