Increased functional connectivity within mesocortical networks in open people

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Personality Science

Background:

• Openness is a key personality trait linked to creativity and novelty seeking.
• Previous research suggests a connection between openness and dopaminergic pathways, but empirical evidence is limited.
• High openness has been observed in individuals with mania, a condition associated with dopamine dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between the personality trait of openness and dopaminergic circuits in the brain.
• To determine if functional connectivity in specific brain networks correlates with individual differences in openness.

Main Methods:

• Three functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments were conducted on 46 healthy volunteers.
• Participants underwent resting-state and task-based fMRI scans, including exposure to pleasant odors and food images.
• Personality traits, including openness, were assessed using the NEO-Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO-PI-R).

Main Results:

• A positive association was found between openness and functional connectivity between the right substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
• This specific connectivity pattern was consistent across all three fMRI experiments.
• The substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area is a primary source of dopaminergic inputs, and the DLPFC is crucial for adaptive information processing.

Conclusions:

• The findings support a link between openness and dopaminergic mesocortical networks.
• Increased functional connectivity in these networks may underlie the 'mental permeability' and sensory absorption characteristic of open individuals.
• This research provides neurobiological insights into the personality trait of openness.