title: The correlation between emotional intelligence and gray matter volume in university students.
abstract: A number of recent studies have investigated the neurological substrates of emotional intelligence (EI), but none of them have considered the neural correlates of EI that are measured using the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Scale (SSREIS). This scale was developed based on the EI model of Salovey and Mayer (1990). In the present study, SSREIS was adopted to estimate EI. Meanwhile, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) were used to evaluate the gray matter volume (GMV) of 328 university students. Results found positive correlations between Monitor of Emotions and VBM measurements in the insula and orbitofrontal cortex. In addition, Utilization of Emotions was positively correlated with the GMV in the parahippocampal gyrus, but was negatively correlated with the VBM measurements in the fusiform gyrus and middle temporal gyrus. Furthermore, Social Ability had volume correlates in the vermis. These findings indicate that the neural correlates of the EI model, which primarily focuses on the abilities of individuals to appraise and express emotions, can also regulate and utilize emotions to solve problems.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Yafei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality at Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Qinglin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mental Health, Jining Medical School, Jining 272067, China.
authors.forename: Wenfu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Dongtao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality at Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. Electronic address: qiuj318@swu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hitchman
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality at Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. Electronic address: yijunliu@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D056348:Emotional Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Emotional Intelligence; Emotional Intelligence model; Gray matter volume; Somatic marker