Article

Dopamine activation in Neuroticism as measured by spontaneous eye blink rate.

Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
Physiology & Behavior (impact factor: 2.87). 08/2011; 105(2):332-6. DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.08.004 pp.332-6
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Personality dimensions have been associated with different psychobiological systems. However, no agreement exists in literature on a specific role of a single neurotransmitter for each of the dimensions investigated. We studied the relationship of Neuroticism, Extraversion and Psychoticism as assessed by Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) with spontaneous eye blink rate (BR), a non-invasive measure of central dopamine activity. A total of sixty-three healthy subjects (40 females, 23 males, mean age 24.2±3.9) were studied. Spontaneous blink rate and time of blink suppression were assessed by EOG measurement. Levels of Extraversion and Neuroticism were inversely correlated. In contrast with previous findings, a significant correlation between blink rate measures and Neuroticism was found. No significant correlation between blink measures and either Extraversion, or Psychoticism were found. The results appear consistent with a lower threshold for activation in neuroticism as suggested by Eysenck's original model.

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Keywords

40 females
 
activation
 
blink measures
 
blink rate measures
 
central dopamine activity
 
dimensions
 
EOG measurement
 
Eysenck Personality Inventory
 
Eysenck's original model
 
lower threshold
 
neuroticism
 
Personality dimensions
 
previous findings
 
specific role
 
Spontaneous blink rate
 
spontaneous eye blink rate