Changes in N1 and P3 components of the auditory event-related potentials in extroverts and introverts depending on the type of the task.

Full Abstract

AIM:
The aim of the study was to examine the interconnection between N1 and P3 components of event-related potentials (ERP) and the personality type extraversion/introversion in two tasks with different conditions:
mental and sensomotor. The hypothesis to test was that the difference in the information processing by extraverts and introverts depends on the task type.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Twenty-six healthy middle-aged volunteers (13 extroverts, 13 introverts) were studied. The two groups were matched in gender, age and education. Electroencephalograms were recorded from Fz, Cz and Pz (10/20 system). Each subject participated in three series of 100 sound stimuli each (75 high--1200 Hz and 25 low--800 Hz, randomly presented)--a passive series, a series with a sensomotor task and a series with a mental task (counting of high tones).

RESULTS:
We found differences in the stimulus information processing between extraverts and introverts, most prominent in the series with tasks. The introverts showed shorter latency and lower amplitudes of N1 in the counting task and longer latency and higher amplitudes in sensomotor tasks than did the extraverts. The extroverts had higher P3 amplitudes in the series with tasks.

CONCLUSION:
The present study confirms the hypothesis that the personality type has an electrophysiological substrate, the type characteristics--extraversion/introversion influence the parameters of N1 and P3 components. The interconnection between the personality type and the processes of cortical activation depend on the type and requirements of the task.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Philipova, Dolja T (DT);

Affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Folia medica (Folia Med (Plovdiv)), published in Bulgaria. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2008 Apr-Jun; vol 50 (issue 2) : pp 24-31

Dates: Created 2008/08/15; Completed 2008/09/04;

PMID: 18702222, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acoustic Stimulation
Adult
Electroencephalography
Evoked Potentials, Auditory - physiology
Extraversion (Psychology)
Female

Humans
Introversion (Psychology)
Male
Mental Processes - physiology
Middle Aged
Psychomotor Performance - physiology

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.