Evidence for a dopaminergic link between working memory and agentic extraversion: an analysis of load-related changes in EEG alpha 1 activity.
Several lines of research point to the possibility of a partially overlapping dopaminergic foundation of the trait of agentic extraversion and individual differences in working memory functioning. This study investigates interactive effects of agentic extraversion and dopamine on spectral EEG measures of working memory. Using EEG activity in the alpha 1 band (8-10.25 Hz) as a dependent variable, we tested in a randomized double-blind design the effects of the D2-dopamine antagonist sulpiride during the performance of four load-graded n-back working memory tasks in participants high versus low in agentic extraversion. We expected extraversion-related differences in the load-responsivity pattern to be reversed by sulpiride, and the alpha 1 anterior-posterior difference actually depicted this reversal effect. However, in contrast to our expectations this effect was largely due to parietal instead of frontal sites.
Chavanon
Mira-Lynn
ML
Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstrasse 18, D-35032 Marburg, Germany. chavanon@staff.uni-marburg.de
Wacker
Jan
J
Leue
Anja
A
Stemmler
Gerhard
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000494:pharmacology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D013469:Sulpiride; D004298:Dopamine