Collocations for impulse - noun

strong
irresistible
first, initial, original
My first impulse was to run away.

sudden
human
basic
instinctual, natural
repressed
conflicting, contradictory, contrary
aggressive, murderous, violent
suicidal
destructive
creative
sexual

feel, have
She felt a sudden impulse to look to her left.

be subject to
We are all subject to aggressive impulses.

be driven by
check, control, deny, fight, resist, restrain, stifle, suppress
He fought down an impulse to scream.

give in to, obey, yield to
She gave in to an impulse and took the money.

act on, follow
Acting on impulse, he picked up the keys and slipped them into his pocket.

buy, purchase
The little black designer dress had been an impulse buy.

item (esp. AmE)
Supermarkets sell candy as impulse items at the checkout counter.

buying
buyer
control

on (an) impulse
Some people will buy a pet on impulse without any idea of what is involved.
On an impulse, I went in and bought a box of chocolates.

impulse towards/toward
basic impulses towards/toward things such as food and drink

electrical, nerve, neural

generate
A neuron generates an electrical impulse.

send, transmit
Nerve impulses are transmitted to the brain.

convert sth into, transform sth into
Radio waves are converted into electrical impulses.

democratic, political, religious

lead (sb/sth) to sth, prompt sb/sth (to do sth)
the impulse that prompted economic change

impulse behind
the impulse behind a concept

impulse for
the impulse for social reform

impulse towards/toward
the political impulses towards/toward joining a trade union