EEG Topographies in High and Low Extraverts
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1
University of Wollongong, Australia
Aim
Eysenck’s theory of cortical arousal suggests that extraverted people demonstrate lower levels of cortical arousal. Much of the literature linking electroencephalography (EEG) and extraversion has focussed on the alpha band. This study aims to extend these analyses into other EEG bands: delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma.
Methods
One hundred and forty participants were assessed on extraversion using the International Personality Item Pool. The average score on extraversion was calculated, and participants scoring 1 standard deviation above (N = 23) and below (N = 22) this mean were identified as being high and low on trait Extraversion, respectively. Continuous EEG was recorded during three resting conditions, each two minutes in length: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), and another EO block.
Two second epochs were Fast Fourier Transformed to assess the spectral band amplitudes of the EEG bands. For the EO condition, the average band amplitude was computed across the two EO tasks. Mixed model repeated measures MANOVAs assessed the topographic differences between high and low extraversion scorers separately for each of the resting conditions.
Results
In the EC resting condition, high scorers on extraversion were associated with relatively enhanced right hemispheric delta activity, and greater levels of gamma at the vertex. In EO, high scorers on extraversion demonstrated lower levels of alpha parietally, particularly in the midline, and relatively increased beta activity at the vertex. There were no significant differences found for theta activity in either of the resting conditions.
Conclusion
The different topographic effects in delta, alpha, beta, and gamma, for the two conditions, shows a more complex EEG patterning in extraversion than suggested by Eysenck’s theory. The novel findings of regional changes in the different bands suggest the need for replication and further research.
Keywords:
Electroencephalography (EEG),
Extraversion,
Personality,
Arousal,
Eysenck
Conference:
Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Inc, Coffs Harbour, Australia, 26 Nov - 28 Nov, 2014.
Presentation Type:
Poster
Topic:
Psychophysiology
Citation:
Lum
M,
Fernando
T,
Karamacoska
D,
Barry
RJ and
Steiner
GZ
(2014). EEG Topographies in High and Low Extraverts.
Conference Abstract:
Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Inc.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2014.216.00019
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Received:
04 Nov 2014;
Published Online:
02 Dec 2014.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Melanie Lum, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia, mkl993@uowmail.edu.au
Miss. Diana Karamacoska, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia, d.karamacoska@westernsydney.edu.au