Touch and personality: extraversion predicts somatosensory brain response

NeuroImage
Michael SchaeferMichael Rotte

Abstract

The Five-Factor-Model describes human personality in five core dimensions (extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness). These factors are supposed to have different neural substrates. For example, it has been suggested that behavioral differences between introverts and extraverts can be explained by the fact that introverts exhibit an inherent drive to compensate for overactive cortical activity in reticulo-thalamo-cortical pathways. The current study examined if responses in somatosensory cortices due to tactile stimulation are affected by personality traits. Based on previous studies and theoretical models we hypothesized a relationship of extraversion with somatosensory responses in primary somatosensory cortex (SI). In order to test this hypothesis we applied nonpainful tactile stimulation on the fingers of both hands of 23 healthy young participants (mean 25 years, standard deviation ± 2.8 years). Personality traits were assessed according to the Five-Factor-Model (NEO-FFI). Neuromagnetic source imaging revealed that the cortical activity (dipole strengths) for sources in SI were closely associated with the personality trait extraversion. Thus, the less extraverted the participants were, the ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 6, 2012·Progress in Neurobiology·Burkhard Pleger, Arno Villringer
Sep 2, 2017·Physiotherapy Theory and Practice·Ana Isabel VieiraAlexandre Castro-Caldas
Jan 3, 2019·Psychiatry Investigation·Omid SoliemanifarReza Afrisham
Jan 22, 2021·Research on Aging·Laura Upenieks, Markus H Schafer

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