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Brain correlates of pro-social personality traits: a voxel-based morphometry study
Joana F Coutinho1, Adriana Sampaio, Miguel Ferreira
1Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal, joanafpc@gmail.com.
Pro-social personality traits like Extraversion and Agreeableness are linked to specific brain structures. This study found negative correlations between these traits and grey matter density in distinct brain regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- The Big Five Personality Model identifies five core traits.
- Extraversion and Agreeableness are commonly linked to pro-social behavior.
- The relationship between these personality traits and brain structure is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between pro-social personality traits (Extraversion, Agreeableness) and grey matter density.
- To explore if specific brain regions correlate with these personality dimensions.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-two healthy participants completed the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI).
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess brain structure.
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analyzed correlations between personality traits and grey matter density.
Main Results:
- Extraversion showed a negative correlation with grey matter density in the middle frontal and orbitofrontal gyri.
- Agreeableness showed a negative correlation with grey matter density in the inferior parietal, middle occipital, and posterior cingulate gyri.
- No positive correlations were observed between these traits and grey matter density.
Conclusions:
- Pro-social personality traits are associated with specific grey matter phenotypes.
- Extraversion relates to reduced grey matter density in frontal regions.
- Agreeableness relates to reduced grey matter density in posterior brain regions.
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