Electrophysiological Correlates of Extraversion: Arousal, Arousability and Activation
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University of Wollongong, Australia
Electrophysiological Correlates of Extraversion: Arousal, Arousability and Activation
Emily J. Wilson & Robert J. Barry
University of Wollongong, Australia
Aims: Eysenck’s arousal theory suggests that extraverts manifest lower cortical arousal and arousability, however past investigation has lacked clear operationalisation regarding both physiological variables. The present study aims to evaluate Eysenck’s extraversion theory within an empirically validated conceptualisation of arousal, arousability and activation.
Method: A sample of 80 university students, aged 18-28 years (sex-balanced) was recruited to complete the 50-item International Personality Item Pool (IPIP). Patterns of cortical activity were measured using the electroencephalogram (EEG) at rest: with eyes open (EO1), eyes closed (EC) and eyes open (EO2). The EC state was considered the baseline measure and compared to the averaged EO activity (EO1 and EO2). Resting EEG data were Fast-Fourier transformed, and the four traditionally defined frequency bands were assessed: delta (0.5-3.5 Hz), theta (4.0-7.5 Hz), alpha (8.0-13.0 Hz) and beta (13.5-29.0 Hz). Participant measures of cortical activity were correlated with scores from the 50-item IPIP extraversion scale.
Results: EC alpha was tested and confirmed as the inverse measure of cortical arousal, and the change from EC to EO alpha assessed arousability. Focal shifts, from EC to EO, in delta, theta and beta marked activation processes that replicate prior research. There was no significant relationship between EC EEG band activity and extraversion scores, or between the change from EC to EO delta, alpha and beta. However, there was a significant relationship between right-parietal EC to EO theta activation and extraversion scores.
Conclusions: Overall, these findings do not support Eysenck’s theory, suggesting that alpha arousal and arousability mechanisms do not characterise extraversion. The novel finding regarding theta activation provides new insight regarding the biological basis of extraversion, and suggests future research.
Keywords:
Extraversion,
Eyes-closed (EC),
Eyes-open (EO),
Arousal,
Arousability,
activation
Conference:
ASP2016 - The 26th Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Adelaide Australia, Adelaide,SA, Australia, 12 Dec - 14 Dec, 2016.
Presentation Type:
Oral Presentation
Topic:
Abstract (student award)
Citation:
Wilson
EJ and
Barry
RJ
(2016). Electrophysiological Correlates of Extraversion: Arousal, Arousability and Activation.
Conference Abstract:
ASP2016 - The 26th Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Adelaide Australia.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2016.221.00023
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Received:
27 Oct 2016;
Published Online:
05 Dec 2016.
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Correspondence:
Miss. Emily J Wilson, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia, ejw456@uowmail.edu.au