Investigating the dopaminergic basis of extraversion in humans: A multilevel approach.
A recent theory suggests that the agency facet of Extraversion (E) is based on brain dopamine (DA). The paucity of human data relevant to this model is probably due to the lack of widely accessible noninvasive psychophysiological indices and well-established behavioral measures sensitive to both E and manipulations of DA activity. Aiming to identify such measures, the authors assessed the electroencephalogram and n-back task performance in groups of introverts and extraverts after administration of either placebo or a selective DA D2 receptor antagonist. As predicted, the antagonist's effects on n-back reaction time measures and frontal versus parietal electroencephalogram theta activity were strongly and specifically modulated by E. New research avenues and theoretical extensions suggested by these results are discussed.
Wacker
Jan
J
Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany. wackerj@staff.uni-marburg.de
Chavanon
Mira-Lynn
ML
Stemmler
Gerhard
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007439:Introversion, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009042:Motivation; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000502:physiology; D012691:Serial Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013826:Theta Rhythm
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D013469:Sulpiride; D004298:Dopamine