Some physiological and psychophysiological signs of neuroticism level in healthy persons

To study cardiac reactivity on presentation of cardiotropic drug odour, perception of this odour and autonomic nervous system activity in high personality neuroticism healthy women.

Cross sectional.

28 healthy female undergraduate university student volunteers in the age range 21 to 29 years.

Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, threshold of nicethamidum odour detection, statistical parameters of electrocardiographic R-R intervals variance, Strain Index of cardiac regulatory systems (as a measure of the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic system activities).

Six subjects with low neuroticism level (LNL) and eight persons with high neuroticism level (HNL) were selected out of 28 young women volunteers using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Baseline cardiac rhythm of the HNL group had a high level of stability and high values of the Strain Index which are characteristic of increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Increased variability of the cardiac rhythm and low values of Strain Index indicated elevated parasympathetic nervous system activity in LNL persons. HNL subjects also had low cardiac reactivity on presentation of nicethamidum solutions and high detection thresholds of odour stimuli.

High neuroticism level in healthy females affects the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activities, cardiac reactivity on presentation of nicethamidum odour as well as perception of this odour. Low cardiac responsiveness to stimulatory effect of cardiotropic drug and increased sympathetic nervous system activity should be taken into consideration when planning treatment of neurotic subjects.