Open AccessBrain Biochemistry and Personality: A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
Author(s) -
Sephira G. Ryman,
Chuck Gasparovic,
Edward J. Bedrick,
Ranee A. Flores,
A. Marshall,
Rex E. Jung
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0026758
Subject(s) - precuneus , posterior cingulate , personality , agreeableness , neuroticism , conscientiousness , psychology , extraversion and introversion , white matter , big five personality traits , neuroscience , functional magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , social psychology , radiology
To investigate the biochemical correlates of normal personality we utilized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H-MRS). Our sample consisted of 60 subjects ranging in age from 18 to 32 (27 females). Personality was assessed with the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). We measured brain biochemistry within the precuneus, the cingulate cortex, and underlying white matter. We hypothesized that brain biochemistry within these regions would predict individual differences across major domains of personality functioning. Biochemical models were fit for all personality domains including Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Our findings involved differing concentrations of Choline (Cho), Creatine (Cre), and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in regions both within (i.e., posterior cingulate cortex) and white matter underlying (i.e., precuneus) the Default Mode Network (DMN). These results add to an emerging literature regarding personality neuroscience, and implicate biochemical integrity within the default mode network as constraining major personality domains within normal human subjects.