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Sensory-processing sensitivity predicts performance on a visual search task followed by an increase in perceived stress
Abstract
Since the publication of Sensory-processing sensitivity and its relation to introversion and emotionality by
Aron and Aron (1997), several studies have investigated the measurement quality of the Highly Sensitive
Person Scale (HSPS), which is meant to measure sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) and its relation to
other self-report scales such as the behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation system scales, the
Big Five scales, and various other health-related self-report scales. However, only a few reported studies
have ever assessed the relation between the HSPS and a behavioral test. The present study (N = 89 psychology
students) further fills this gap by investigating how SPS influences individual performance on a
visual detection task. In addition, self-reported stress was assessed before and after the visual detection
task. Results showed that SPS was positively related to performance on a visual detection task. Nevertheless,
the better performance was accompanied by higher reported stress after taking the test.
... Several studies have linked SPS to poor psychological health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression (Bakker & Moulding, 2012;Brindle et al., 2015;Liss et al., 2008;Takahashi et al., 2020). In particular, high-sensitive individuals are more likely to experience elevated stress (Bakker & Moulding, 2012;Benham, 2006;Brindle et al., 2015;Gerstenberg, 2012) and to respond to such stress with a range of negative outcomes (Kenemore et al., 2023;Pluess et al., 2023). ...
... Based on the reviewed evidence on highly sensitive individuals, we hypothesized that higher SPS would be associated with higher perceived stress and higher sleep reactivity, as well as increased insomnia symptoms. Evidence already exists about the positive relationship between SPS and perceived stress (Benham, 2006;Gerstenberg, 2012;Kenemore et al., 2023), while no previous study directly tested the correlation between SPS and sleep reactivity, and between SPS and insomnia symptoms. We further hypothesized that perceived stress and sleep reactivity would mediate the relationship between SPS and insomnia symptoms, as stress has been related to both increased SPS (Kenemore et al., 2023;Pluess et al., 2023) and insomnia symptoms (Kalmbach et al., 2018;Morin et al., 2003). ...
... Our results also support the well-known relationship between SPS and stress, as we found a positive correlation between HSP-12 and PSS, and between HSP-12 and FIRST. While the former has been reported in previous studies (Benham, 2006;Gerstenberg, 2012;Kenemore et al., 2023), the latter has been not. ...
Sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) is a temperamental trait that describes individual differences in sensitivity to environmental stimuli. Previous studies have shown that highly sensitive individuals are more vulnerable to stress and to sleep-related difficulties. In light of this evidence, we hypothesized that SPS is associated with an increase in insomnia symptoms and that this correlation would be mediated by increased perceived stress and sleep reactivity. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a cross-sectional study on 358 adults who completed a survey that included self-report measures of sensitivity, perceived stress, sleep reactivity, and insomnia symptoms. Correlation analysis revealed that SPS was positively related to both stress-related and sleep-related variables. We then conducted a mediation analysis, which revealed that SPS was positively related to insomnia symptoms and that this relationship was fully mediated by sleep reactivity but not mediated at all by perceived stress. The current findings suggest that sleep reactivity may contribute to the development of insomnia symptoms in highly sensitive individuals. Therefore, these results suggests that sleep reactivity should be assessed in highly sensitive individuals and that it could be important to evaluate and further study this relationship.
... Another study, examining inhibitory control and SPS, found greater inhibition among those with higher levels of SPS in response to an emotional face processing task [7]. Finally, some studies investigating visual perception and SPS indicated that individuals with high SPS process subtleties in visual stimuli more thoroughly [15,16]. ...
... However, only a few studies have investigated how context impacts cognition as a function of SPS. This, of course, has important implications for HSPs, as they tend to experience cognitive overload and emotional over-arousal in stressful, chaotic, and overstimulating environments [15,32,33]. However, in response to favorable (calm, not overly distracting, and pleasant) conditions, HSPs show enhanced cognition [13][14][15][16]. ...
... This, of course, has important implications for HSPs, as they tend to experience cognitive overload and emotional over-arousal in stressful, chaotic, and overstimulating environments [15,32,33]. However, in response to favorable (calm, not overly distracting, and pleasant) conditions, HSPs show enhanced cognition [13][14][15][16]. ...
Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a biological trait associated with enhanced awareness of and responsivity to the environment, as well as depth of cognitive processing. However, only a few studies have investigated how contextual factors impact cognition as a function of SPS. Thus, this study examined whether SPS is associated with differential changes in cognitive function resulting from participation in a 4-week app-based cognitive training program with neurofeedback (CT-NF). Participants (M age = 66 years) were randomized to either a treatment (CT-NF) or control group (Tetris). They completed a self-report measure of SPS (the Highly Sensitive Person Scale), and cognitive tests at pre- and post-intervention. Results revealed that individuals with higher levels of SPS in the treatment group showed superior improvements in memory (MEM) and visual memory (VSM), relative to other participants and other measures of cognition. These findings are consistent with theories of SPS and studies showing that enhanced visual perceptiveness and memory are associated with the trait. Moreover, they highlight the cognitive mechanisms that might be especially important for SPS. In conclusion, these findings suggest that those with high SPS may experience enhancements in MEM and VSM, resulting from a 4-week app-based CT-NF program.
... Higher SPS was associated with longer response latencies to minor versus major changes; activation was greater in brain areas associated with high-order visual processing and attention (i.e., right claustrum, left occipitotemporal, bilateral temporal and medial and posterior parietal regions), when detecting minor versus major changes in stimuli. These results persisted even after controlling for introversion and neuroticism, indicating they are specific to SPS. Gerstenberg (2012) found that higher SPS was associated with faster reaction times and lower error rates in a visual detection task; higher SPS was associated with more stress, though. Finally, in another fMRI study, Asians and Americans performed either context-independent (typically easier for Americans) or context-dependent (typically easier for Asians) visuospatial tasks (Aron et al., 2010). ...
... While low-SPS subjects showed increased activation of the frontal and parietal cortex when performing the more difficult task for their respective cultural background, this was not present in high-SPS subjects. While in easier tasks high-SPS individuals show faster responses (Gerstenberg, 2012), they inhibit their responses and pay more attention to stimuli in cognitively demanding tasks (Jagiellowicz et al., 2011). ...
... The antisaccade paradigm allows to test whether high-SPS individuals are able to control their reflexive reaction towards different target cues better than low-SPS individuals are. As there is previous research regarding the relation between SPS-subscales and performance on a visual detection task (Gerstenberg, 2012), we hypothesized that higher SPS would be related to faster processing speed and higher accuracy on the antisaccade task (Hypothesis 1). As higher SPS is associated with increased activation of brain regions involved in integration of sensory information, and empathy during processing of emotional faces (Acevedo et al., 2014), we assume better performance in the emotional antisaccade task (Hypothesis 2). ...
Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a common, heritable, and evolutionarily conserved trait, describing inter-individual differences in responsiveness and a more cautious approach to novel stimuli. It is associated with increased activation of brain regions involved in awareness, integration of sensory information, and empathy during processing of emotional faces. Furthermore, SPS is related to better performance in a visual detection task. Even though SPS is conceptualized to be closely related to traits characterized by pausing before acting, no study to date has assessed the relation between SPS and inhibitory control in a behavioral inhibition task. The present study fills this gap by investigating how SPS influences individual performance on two different antisaccade paradigms including emotional face stimuli. In addition, we assessed self-reported mood, anxiety, and depressiveness. Results showed that SPS was related to faster processing speed on the emotional, but not the classic antisaccade paradigm. Moreover, SPS predicted inhibitory control speed above mood and depressiveness. Our results provide evidence that higher SPS participants show superior inhibitory abilities, especially during the processing of emotional stimuli. This is in line with earlier findings showing better performance in a visual detection task as well as increased brain activation during emotional face processing.
... Thus, expatriates may be susceptible to withdraw themselves from the stressful situation more often when the perceived stress is high (e.g., Ingledew et al., 1997). Both SPS (e.g., β = 0.40, Gerstenberg, 2012) and bonding social capital (e.g., β = À0.33, , are directly linked to stress, which in turn positively relates to turnover intention (e.g., β = 0.13, Avey et al., 2009). ...
... Our results show that SPS, like many other personality traits, contains a 'dark' side during international assignments, in that it is related to higher levels of stress. Interestingly, our finding is in line with results of other studies in the non-cultural context, where similar relationships and stress levels were found (β = 0.40, Gerstenberg, 2012). This suggests thatafter expatriates spent a certain amount of time abroadexposure to this foreign environment might not moderate the relation between SPS and perceived stress any more. ...
... Hence, sensitive expatriates might not feel more stressed abroad than at home after they could acclimatize to the new cultural environment. Further, highly sensitive persons are better at spotting and avoiding errors, are highly conscientious (Aron, 1996;Gerstenberg, 2012) and were shown to be less affected by cultural context as they process information more deeply (Aron et al., 2010). Thus, SPS also has a 'bright' side and consequently can be a valuable resource that helps to reduce stress related to foreignness. ...
... That none of these correlations are particularly compelling supports the claim that SPS captures a personality feature that is distinct from the fivefactor model. This is further supported by the ability of SPS to uniquely predict behavioural outcomes that are not anticipated by the five-factor model (e.g., Gerstenberg, 2012). A more complex picture emerges when the five-factor model is correlated to the three main factors of SPS, Ease of Excitation (EOE), Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES) and Low Sensory Threshold (LST; see Lionetti et al., 2019). ...
... (Aron & Aron, 2013), and the instrument correlates well with Mehrabian's measure of sensory screening (Mehrabian, 1977) and the Behavioural Inhibition System scale (Carver & White, 1994). Correlations with introversion/extraversion are weaker (Aron & Aron, 1997;Gerstenberg, 2012). Thus, the HSPS demonstrates good reliability and validity (convergent and discriminant). ...
... d When childhood care is entered as a quadratic term, the interpretation of the regression model is not substantially changed university adjustment over and above the five-factor model. Others (e.g., Gerstenberg, 2012) have also found SPS to predict outcomes independently of the five-factor model. As Aron and Aron (1997) have argued, careful consideration must be given to what is primary and what is secondary in terms of personality development. ...
Adjusting to university represents a substantial challenge in the lives of emerging adults and has been the focus of significant educational and personality psychology research. To date, however, no study has examined university adjustment as a function of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) - a personality trait characterised by strong emotional reactivity and a heightened ability to detect and deeply process environmental stimulation, but with a consequent risk for debilitating feelings of overwhelm. Using a multiethnic sample of 580 first year South African psychology students, we examined university adjustment differences between students scoring high and low on SPS. Furthermore, we tested whether the effects of SPS on adjustment were a) independent from the five-factor model and b) moderated by levels of early parental care. We found that students scoring high (vs low) on SPS reported significantly worse adjustment to university. Opposite to theoretical claims, we only found a moderating effect for parental care for students low on SPS. By deconstructing SPS into its component factors, we discovered that poor adjustment was driven by a propensity towards negative affect, but the ability of high SPS individuals to carefully and deeply process stimulation served to partially offset adjustment difficulties. Importantly, SPS appeared to capture variation in university adjustment independent of the five-factor model. We conclude that SPS may be a useful personality construct for identifying students who find university adjustment particularly overwhelming and could thus benefit from targeted support and intervention.
... SPS can be understood in terms of four aspects, all of which could affect PSE: Those high in SPS appear to process information more thoroughly; have stronger reactions to emotional stimuli, including greater empathy; show greater sensitivity to subtle stimuli; and are more easily overstimulated (for a review, see E. N. Aron et al., 2012). Experimental (e.g., Gerstenberg, 2012), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI; e.g., Acevedo Jagiellowicz, Aron, Marhenke, & Aron, 2017), genetic (e.g., Chen et al., 2011), and survey studies (e.g., E. N. Aron & Aron, 1997, Study 4) related to each of these aspects have found substantial differences between those high and low on the HSP Scale, and each of these four aspects would seem likely to influence PSE. For example, greater empathy and noticing subtle stimuli might allow parents to be unusually aware of their child's needs, but being easily overstimulated could make parenting seem highly unpleasant at times. ...
... N. Aron & Aron, 1997, Study 1), which is why many items relating to it are on the scale. In an experiment comparing high-and low-SPS individuals on a difficult and subtle perceptual task (Gerstenberg, 2012), those high in SPS evidenced greater speed and accuracy. Again, this aspect could affect all three factors of PSE. ...
... Being easily overstimulated, a fourth aspect of SPS, is also highly present in the items on the HSP Scale. In the same study (Gerstenberg, 2012), high-SPS scorers were also more stressed after the task. Several studies have also found a correlation of the HSP Scale with susceptibility to stress in the workplace (e.g., Evers, Rasche, & Schabracq, 2008). ...
Objective
To explore the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) and parental subjective experience (PSE).
Background
SPS is a temperament trait characterized by greater sensitivity to environmental and social stimuli; no previous research has examined the relation of SPS to PSE (e.g., how much parents feel parenting is difficult or feel connected to their child).
Method
In the first of two online studies, mothers were unaware of the study's relation to SPS ( N = 92). In the second, mothers ( n = 802) and fathers ( n = 65) were recruited through an SPS‐related website. SPS was assessed by the short version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale; PSE by 27 items with three components—Parenting Difficulties, Good Coparenting Relationship, and Attunement to Child.
Results
Controlling or not for external stressors, negative affectivity, children's age, and socioeconomic status, high‐SPS mothers in both studies scored meaningfully higher on Parenting Difficulties and Attunement to Child; high‐SPS fathers scored higher on Attunement to Child. SPS had little association with Coparenting Relationship.
Conclusion
Parents high in SPS report more attunement with child, although mothers found parenting more difficult.
Implications
This information could aid family researchers, particularly by considering the role of adult temperament. It also suggests that interventions focused on high‐SPS parents could improve their parenting experience and hence perhaps enhance child development. Thus, this research and what may follow from it could advance both theory and practice.
... Furthermore, research indicates that HSPs often report more stressful experiences due to their heightened perception of stimuli and deeper processing. It has been suggested that the thalamic filter, responsible for filtering out irrelevant information, identifies more stimuli as relevant in HSPs, potentially leading to increased stress (Benham, 2006;Evans and Rothbart, 2008;Jagiellowicz et al., 2011;Gerstenberg, 2012). ...
... In line with this assumption, previous studies have demonstrated that HSPs perform better in visual search tasks, despite reporting higher levels of subsequent stress compared to non-HSPs. The authors explained this superior performance by attributing it to increased activation of working memory in HSPs (Gerstenberg, 2012). This interpretation aligns with the observed increase in gamma power, as experimental research has shown that gamma band response plays a crucial role in both working and long-term memory (Gruber et al., 2004;Jensen et al., 2007). ...
Background: Sensory processing sensitivity is mainly captured based on questionnaires and it's neurophysiological basis is largely unknown. As hitherto no electroencephalography (EEG) study has been carried out, the aim of this work was to determine whether the self-reported level of SPS correlates with the EEG activity in different frequency bands.
Methods: One hundred fifteen participants were measured with 64-channel EEG during a task-free resting state. After artifact correction, a power spectrum time series was calculated using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) for the following frequency bands: Delta: 1-3.5 Hz, theta: 4-7.5 Hz, alpha1: 8-10 Hz, alpha2: 10.5-12 Hz, beta1: 12.5-15 Hz, beta2: 15.5-25 Hz, gamma: 25.5-45 Hz, global: 1-45 Hz. Correlations with the 'Highly Sensitive Person Scale' (HSPS-G) scores were determined. Then, the lowest and the highest 30% of the cohort were contrasted as polar opposites. EEG features were compared between the two groups applying a paired two-tailed t-test.
Results: The HSPS-G scores correlated statistically significantly positive with beta 1 and 2, and global EEG power during resting with eyes open, but not during resting with eyes closed. The highly sensitive group revealed higher beta power (4.38 ± 0.32 vs. 4.21 ± 0.17, p = 0.014), higher gamma power (4.21 ± 0.37 vs. 4.00 ± 0.25, p = 0.010), and increased global EEG power (4.38 ± 0.29 vs. 4.25 ± 0.17, p = 0.041). The higher EEG activity in the HSP group was most pronounced in the central, parietal, and temporal region, whereas lower EEG activity was most present in occipital areas.
Conclusion: For the first time, neurophysiological signatures associated with SPS during a task free resting state were demonstrated. Evidence is provided that neural processes differ between HSP and non-HSP. During resting with eyes open HSP exhibit higher EEG activity suggesting increased information processing. The findings could be of importance for the development of biomarkers for clinical diagnostics and intervention efficacy evaluation.
... • Overarousability: excessive attention to environmental details in HSPs leads to overstimulation and early and high fatigue (Gerstenberg, 2012). HSPs are usually faster and more accurate, but at the same time, more stressed and exhausted than non-sensitive people, especially in impulsive and risktaking behaviors (Gerstenberg, 2012). ...
... • Overarousability: excessive attention to environmental details in HSPs leads to overstimulation and early and high fatigue (Gerstenberg, 2012). HSPs are usually faster and more accurate, but at the same time, more stressed and exhausted than non-sensitive people, especially in impulsive and risktaking behaviors (Gerstenberg, 2012). ...
Sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) defined, as a personality trait, seems to be characterized by emotional sensitivity, and stronger reactivity to both external and internal stimuli. SPS can represent a risk factor for developing clinical conditions during childhood and adolescence. This personality trait is not to be considered a pathological clinical condition, however, can expose to greater environmental vulnerability. In particular, the recent studies about SPS can be contextualized to social situations that evoke traumatic and stressful emotional responses such as social exclusion. We hypothesize that Highly Sensitive People (HSP) are more vulnerable to social exclusion and social pain. This hypothesis could help structure new educational and intervention models designed to improve coping strategies and promote HSP’s psychophysical and social well-being.
... This refers to noticing nuances that others miss. However, this feature does not apply to the extraordinary acuity of the senses, but rather to more careful processing of sensory information (Gerstenberg, 2012). ...
... Moreover, another explanation could be related to sensing the subtleties and noticing details that medium/low sensitive people ignore or do not see. This thesis has the confirmation in the study in which highly sensitive participants achieved higher scores in the visual processing task (Gerstenberg, 2012). The other possibility is that highly sensitive respondents experienced a higher level of stress when being placed in the experimental situation, which in turn contributed to greater resistance to misinformation (see Hoscheidt, LaBar, Ryan, Jacobs, Nadel, 2014;Nitschke, Chu, Pruessner, Bartz, Sheldon, 2019;Vogel, Schwabe, 2016). ...
Sensory processing sensitivity is a relatively new theoretical construct. Its main components include deeper processing of stimuli as well as a stronger response to environmental impacts, both positive and negative. The effect of misinformation, which involves the inclusion of misinformation in the witness's memory reports, can be modified by varied factors, including personality characteristics. To the knowledge of the authors, no such research has been conducted so far and thereby the aim of the following study was to examine the relationship between the sensory processing sensitivity and susceptibility to the misinformation effect. Group studies were carried out according to the three-stage scheme of investigating the misinformation effect. After the original material was presented, the participants were exposed to a post-event material, containing the misinformation in the experimental group. Then the memory of the original material was tested. A strong misinformation effect was shown. Highly sensitive people, achieving the highest results in the Highly Sensitive Person Scale, were more resistant to the misinformation effect.
... On the other hand, highly sensitive individuals can become overwhelmed and may struggle to process information (Acevedo et al., 2014;Acevedo et al., 2017;Aron et al., 2012;Jagiellowicz et al., 2016). A study by Gerstenberg (2012) investigated the relationship between the HSPS, the NEO PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), a gauge of the five major personality domains and six facets which provides a detailed assessment of normal adult personality, and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (Levenstein et al., 1993). The study found increased performance on a visual detection task for highly sensitive individuals, although they noted that a higher level of performance was found to be associated with higher levels of reported stress following the test. ...
... Deep processing of information, which is associated with high sensitivity, can lead to overwhelm as a result of the sheer volume of continual stimuli (Aron & Aron, 1997;Aron et al., 2012;Evers et al., 2008;Greven et al., 2019;Pluess et al., 2020). Additionally, all participants in the study reported that they were overwhelmed by aspects of the physical environment, and the lower sensory thresholds associated with high sensitivity can lead to feelings of overwhelm (Greven, et al., 2019;Liss et al., 2005;Smolewska et al., 2006;Sobocko & Zelenski, 2015) and stress and anxiety (Andresen et al., 2018;Benham, 2006;Gerstenberg, 2012;Neil et al., 2016;Pickard et al., 2020). Further, when highly sensitive individuals become overwhelmed, they may struggle to process information (Aron et al., 2012;Acevedo et al., 2014;Jagiellowicz et al., 2016;Acevedo et al., 2017). ...
People vary in the way in which they perceive, process and react to environmental
factors, and some are more or less sensitive than others. There is a dearth of research
investigating the possible impact that environmental sensitivity has in the postsecondary
education context. To address this gap in literature, the following research question was
posed: What impact does environmental sensitivity have on student learning in tertiary
education? To answer this question a two-stage mixed methods research project was
undertaken. The first stage involved two studies which used snowball recruitment via social
media, and subject inclusion criteria were current or previous postsecondary education
experience. Participants completed on-line surveys. Study One is the design, development
and validation of a self-report instrument measuring postsecondary students’ perceptions of
their learning success, and participants completed the Perceived Success in Study Survey
(PSISS) and associated demographic questions. Two phases were undertaken to check for
reliability of results, n=225 and n=237. Reliability statistics found a high level of internal
consistency, and principal component analysis identified five factors: Intellectual
Stimulation, Generic Skills, Work-life Balance; Commitment to Learning and Learning
Community. The PSISS was found to be a comprehensive measure of overall success for
postsecondary learners.
The participants in Study Two (n=365) completed the PSISS and the 12-item Highly
Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS-12, Pluess et al., 2020) and related demographic questions.
Independent T-tests, ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc calculations identified that high sensitivity
is positively associated with success-promoting attitudes and strategies as identified on three
of the five PSISS factors. It also found positive associations between total scores on the
PSISS and the sensitivity subscales of Aesthetic Sensitivity and Ease of Excitation
(Smolewska et al., 2006). This study included a response field to register interest in
participation in further research. Those who responded, and who rated as highly sensitive on
the HSPS-12, were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview, leading into the second
stage of the project. Thirteen Zoom interviews were conducted with participants from a broad
range of geographic locations and levels and fields of study in order to exemplify and
elaborate on the quantitative findings. Reflexive inductive thematic analysis was employed to
analyse the data, and sixteen codes and three themes were identified. Responses were written
vi
into a semantic narrative, accompanied by pertinent participant quotations, providing a rich
and detailed description of participant experience.
The results of this study confirmed that there are educational advantages contingent
with high sensitivity, including the use of a broad array of metacognitive study and self-care
strategies, and the prioritisation of wellbeing and work-life balance. Conversely, it also found
that numerous simultaneous study demands can lead to feelings of overwhelm, however, the
participants employed a comprehensive array of metacognitive coping strategies to manage
these. Low sensory thresholds associated with high sensitivity can present challenges for
highly sensitive students who can be negatively impacted by aspects of the physical learning
environments including light, noise, indoor environmental pollutants. Additionally,
participants highlighted the need for postsecondary institutions to provide education about
environmental sensitivity, to allow flexibility in teaching delivery, to explore options to
support students who may struggle with group-work and presentations, and to provide
assessment accommodations.
Overall, the project has identified a number of positive and negative associations
between levels of learner sensitivity and student success and suggests that education about
environmental sensitivity for students and teaching staff would be helpful for increasing
awareness about the benefits and challenges of environmental sensitivity. Institutional
commitment to providing optimal physical learning and social environments may enhance the
learning experience for all students. Finally, recommendations for policy, practice and
institutions highlight elements that will be of benefit to all students, most especially those
who sit at the high end of the sensitivity spectrum.
... Our study shows higher SPS (controlling for anxiety) to be related to better inhibitory control in an emotional antisaccade paradigm, which is in line with earlier research showing better performance in a visual detection task (Gerstenberg, 2012). This effect was only visible in RTs, but not in ERs, though. ...
... SPS is associated with increased activation of brain regions involved in awareness, integration of sensory information, empathy, and action planning during processing of happy and sad faces (Acevedo et al., 2014). Furthermore, SPS is related to better performance in a visual detection task containing neutral stimuli (Gerstenberg, 2012). In our study, we assessed inhibitory control in two different antisaccade tasks including neutral circles and emotional face stimuli. ...
Background: Sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) is a common, heritable and evolutionarily conserved trait, describing interindividual differences in responsiveness and a more cautious approach to both negative and positive social stimuli. SPS is associated with increased activation of brain regions involved in awareness, integration of sensory information, empathy, and action planning during processing of happy and sad faces. Furthermore, SPS is related to better performance in a visual detection task containing neutral stimuli. Even though SPS is conceptualized to be closely related to traits characterized by pausing before acting and higher behavioral inhibition, no study to date has assessed the relation between SPS and inhibitory control in a behavioral processing task.
Method: The present study fills this gap by investigating how SPS influences individual performance on two different antisaccade paradigms (classic vs. emotional). In addition, self-reported mood, anxiety and depressiveness were assessed before the eye-tracking experiment. Results: SPS was positively related to performance on the emotional, but not in the classic antisaccade paradigm. In a hierarchical linear regression model, SPS predicted performance above individual mood, anxiety and depressiveness. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that higher SPS is connected to better inhitory control, especially during the processing of emotional stimuli. This is in line with earlier findings showing better performance in a visual detection task as well as increased brain activation during emotional face processing.
... This definition and the distinctions within it raise the question of whether SPS might be characterized by enhanced recognition of stimuli, in addition to intensity of reactions to stimuli. Only two studies have addressed this: Gerstenberg (2012) found SPS to be positively correlated with fewer errors in a visual detection task, but only for the LST dimension of the HSPS, and Jagiellowicz et al. (2011) found HSPS score was not associated with accuracy in a visual change detection task. ...
... The only finding in the literature of a significant relationship between performance on a sensory detection task and the HSPS was for error rate and the LST dimension, in Gerstenberg (2012), where the Pearson correlation r = 0.42. A minimum sample size of N = 50 for the current study was determined by a power analysis conducted using G*Power software (Faul et al., 2009), at a power of 0.80, alpha of 0.025, and r = 0.42. ...
There are differences in Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) within many species. In humans high SPS refers to greater responsivity to stimuli, slower, deeper processing, aesthetic sensitivity, and low threshold for sensory discomfort. This study tested whether SPS is associated with the accurate recognition of degraded auditory stimuli and susceptibility to auditory pareidolia (hearing illusory words when presented with ambiguous, degraded words). Fifty participants (mean age = 33.02; females n = 32, males n = 18) responded to degraded words presented in Deutsch's phantom word illusion task. They then completed the Highly Sensitive Person Scale, which assesses SPS, and the Survey of Anomalous Experiences. SPS was significantly associated with the recognition of degraded stimuli, but not with pareidolia. Number of anomalous experiences reported by participants was significantly associated with SPS and pareidolia. This study shows objective validation of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale regarding detection of subtle external stimuli.
... It is, therefore, important to obtain evidence of the degree to which SPS is similar to, or different from, other temperaments and personality constructs (Greven et al., 2019;Lionetti et al., 2019). Many researchers have investigated the relationship of SPS to the Big Five traits (e.g., Aron & Aron, 1997;Gerstenberg, 2012;Lionetti et al., 2018;Pluess et al., 2018;S ßengül-_ Inal & Sümer, 2020;Smolewska et al., 2006;Sobocko & Zelenski, 2015). A recent meta-analysis showed that in adults, SPS is moderately correlated with neuroticism (r = .40) ...
... Most previous studies on the relationship between SPS and the Big Five traits used samples from Western countries, such as the United Kingdom Pluess et al., 2018), Germany (Gerstenberg, 2012), United States (Aron & Aron, 1997), and Canada (Smolewska et al., 2006;Sobocko & Zelenski, 2015). However, to know whether this evidence on SPS is generalizable across different cultures, researchers should use samples from non-Western cultures . ...
Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a temperament trait characterized by deeper processing of sensory information, being easily overstimulated, stronger emotional reactivity, and more awareness of subtle stimuli. Many studies on Western samples have associated SPS and/or its three components (i.e., low sensory threshold [LST], ease of excitation [EOE], and aesthetic sensitivity [AES]) with the Big Five personality traits, but cultural factors may influence these relationships. This study surveyed a Japanese sample (N = 1,626) to investigate the associations. Bivariate correlation analyses found that AES had a negatively weak correlation with neuroticism, while it was positively correlated with openness (strongly), extraversion, agreeableness (moderately), and conscientiousness (weakly). LST and EOE had strong positive correlations with neuroticism and moderate negative or weak correlations with the other four traits. The canonical correlation analysis revealed commonality between the constructs of about 55%. While some results were consistent with those of the former studies, others were not. The results contrary to studies on Western samples might be explained by the differences between collectivist and individualist cultures, biological differences, and/or measurement weaknesses.
... The three factors that emerged from these studies are (1) Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES), which captures the response to aesthetic stimuli (such as being sensitive to arts and music); (2) Low Sensory Threshold (LST), which describes uncomfortable sensory arousal to external stimuli (such as response to bright lights and loud noises); and (3) Ease of Excitation (EOE), which reflects being easily overwhelmed by external and internal needs (such as negative response to having too much to do). The three factors reflect different facets of the construct and show specific patterns of associations with other personality traits, as reported in previous studies [34,35,37]. For instance, neuroticism has been found to be associated with EOE and LST, whereas agreeableness and openness have been found to be related to AES [36,[38][39][40]. ...
The main goal of the current study was to examine the direct and moderating effects of civic discussions with parents and environmental sensitivity using both the total score and its specific dimensions (i.e., Aesthetic Sensitivity, AES; Ease of Excitation, EOE; Low Sensitivity Threshold, LST) on youth civic engagement (attitudes and behaviours). The empirical analysis relied on a questionnaire-based survey conducted on a sample of 438 adolescents (30% males), aged between 14 and 18 years (M = 16.50, SD = 1.36). We used a structural equation model (SEM) with latent variables and the latent moderated structural equation (LMS) method to test our hypotheses. Our results showed that civic discussions with parents were positively and significantly associated with general environmental sensitivity and with AES and predicted both civic attitudes and civic behaviours; EOE was negatively and significantly related to civic behaviours; AES was positively and significantly related to civic attitudes; and LST was not significantly related to either civic attitudes or behaviours. Contrary to our expectations, environmental sensitivity did not moderate the relationship between civic discussions with parents and civic engagement. Our study further highlights the relevance that parents have in shaping their children's civic engagement and makes a novel contribution regarding how differences in perceiving and processing environmental stimuli can affect beliefs and behaviours toward community issues among young individuals.
... In line with this assumption, past investigations demonstrated that HSP performed better in a visual search task, although subsequently reporting more stress compared to non-HSP. The authors explained the greater performance with higher activation of working memory in HSP [46]. Notably, significantly higher entropy values were further observed in the EEG of healthy participants performing a visual memory task [47] Moreover, it has been suggested that in HSP, the filter of the thalamus, which serves to sort out irrelevant information, considers more stimuli as relevant as in non-HSP. ...
Background:
This study aimed at answering the following research questions: (1) Does the self-reported level of sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) correlate with complexity, or criticality features of the electroencephalogram (EEG)? (2) Are there significant EEG differences comparing individuals with high and low levels of SPS?
Methods:
One hundred fifteen participants were measured with 64-channel EEG during a task-free resting state. The data were analyzed using criticality theory tools (detrended fluctuation analysis, neuronal avalanche analysis) and complexity measures (sample entropy, Higuchi's fractal dimension). Correlations with the 'Highly Sensitive Person Scale' (HSPS-G) scores were determined. Then, the cohort's lowest and the highest 30% were contrasted as opposites. EEG features were compared between the two groups by applying a Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Results:
During resting with eyes open, HSPS-G scores correlated significantly positively with the sample entropy and Higuchi's fractal dimension (Spearman's ρ = 0.22, p < 0.05). The highly sensitive group revealed higher sample entropy values (1.83 ± 0.10 vs. 1.77 ± 0.13, p = 0.031). The increased sample entropy in the highly sensitive group was most pronounced in the central, temporal, and parietal regions.
Conclusion:
For the first time, neurophysiological complexity features associated with SPS during a task-free resting state were demonstrated. Evidence is provided that neural processes differ between low- and highly-sensitive persons, whereby the latter displayed increased neural entropy. The findings support the central theoretical assumption of enhanced information processing and could be important for developing biomarkers for clinical diagnostics.
... However, sensory sensitivity might well be associated with the broad spectrum of mental health conditions, e.g. through stress sensitivity. Subjective stress is found to be positively associated with self-reported sensory sensitivity in several student populations (Benham, 2006;Gearhart and Bodie, 2012;Gerstenberg, 2012). In children with autism, sensory sensitivity was also found to be related to increased concentrations of cortisol . ...
... To address this issue, disattenuated estimates of the found correlations can be calculated using Spearman's formula to correct for attenuation. Thus, in the four studies reporting both correlation coefficients between the HSPS and Big Five traits and reliability estimates (Cronbach's alpha in all cases) for the scales [18,25,30,31], the attenuation-corrected correlations reach r = .87 for EOE and neuroticism and r = -.64 for extraversion and EOE. ...
The construct of "sensory processing sensitivity" has become an extremely popular concept outside the scientific literature under the term "high sensitivity" (HS), reflected in a variety of self-help guides and media reports. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate this phenomenon by examining in-depth individuals who consider the label HS essential to their self-definition. In semi-structured interviews, 38 individuals described their understanding of HS and its perceived manifestations and impact on their lives (among other topics). Subsequently, the data were content-analytically evaluated, i.e., categorized and quantified. One key finding was that HS individuals feel relief following self-attribution or self-diagnosis. Moreover, this self-attribution replaced the feeling of being somehow different from the others, which almost all interviewees mentioned, with positive attributes. The main negative features of HS mentioned were feeling overwhelmed by sensory and emotional stimuli. The results are discussed with regard to the significance of the label HS for this group on the one hand, and with regard to alternative approaches for future research on the other hand.
... Higher SPS individuals should thus be more negatively affected by distracting stimuli. Indeed, at least one study has shown that individuals with higher SPS performed better at a visual detection task, but that they also reported higher stress levels after engaging in the task 39 . ...
Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a biologically-based trait associated with greater reactivity to both positive and negative environments. Recent studies suggest that the activity following learning can support or hinder memory retention. Here, we employed a within-subject experiment to examine whether and how individual differences in SPS contribute to differences in memory retention. Sixty-four participants encoded and immediately recalled two word lists: one followed by 8-min of eyes-closed, wakeful resting; and the other by a distraction task. After 7 days, participants completed a surprise free recall test for both word lists. If participants wakefully rested after encoding, memory retention increased as a function of higher SPS. However, in the distraction condition, a negative curvilinear relationship indicated that memory retention was especially hindered for highly sensitive individuals. These results suggest that individual differences in SPS are an important factor to consider when examining the effects of environmental conditions on learning and memory.
... This result suggests that individuals with high SPS were, as found in studies of sensory discrimination (e.g. Gerstenberg, 2012 ;Williams et al., 2021 ), more careful and attentive in answering the "tricky " reverse-scored items. In contrast, those with low SPS, presumably because they did not answer the reverse scored items as carefully, were likely to have a lower correlation than they should with SS. ...
Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a trait associated with enhanced responsivity to environmental stimuli and the tendency to pause before acting. However, qualitative data suggest that some who are high in SPS may also be high in sensation seeking (SS), a trait characterized by the seeking of novel and intense experiences. Thus, this online study examined SPS and SS among 214 individuals (mean age, 30), using the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (the standard SPS measure), a standard measure of sensation seeking (ZKA-PQ); and the newly developed Sensation-Seeking Scale for Highly Sensitive Persons (SSS/HSP). We also measured risk-taking, impulsivity, and neuroticism, as control variables. Results showed that SPS (controlling or not controlling for neuroticism) was moderately negatively correlated with the ZKA-PQ, risk-taking and impulsivity; but positively associated with negative urgency—the tendency to act impulsively due to negative affect. Also, the validity of the SSS/HSP was supported, as it showed a strong positive correlation with standard measures of SS and risk-taking, a moderate association with impulsivity, and (as it was designed to do) a near zero correlation with SPS. In conclusion, although some individuals with SPS may express high SS, the two traits are largely separate; and the SSS/HSP is a reliable measure of SS, having items better-suited for the highly sensitive.
... Specifically, the dimensions of EOE and LST reflect sensitivity to negative experiences and stimuli. EOE and LST mainly operate through the BIS (Smolewska et al., 2006;Gerstenberg, 2012;Pluess et al., 2018;Lionetti et al., 2019). When the BIS is activated, individuals become more alert, focus their attention on the potentially threatening stimulus or situation, and tend to pause current behavior (Carver and White, 1994). ...
This study investigates the role of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) as a predictor of employees' proactive work behavior. SPS is a multidimensional concept that depicts differences in people's sensory awareness, processing, and reactivity to internal and external influences. Based on research on SPS as grounded in a heightened sensitivity of the behavioral inhibition and activation systems, it was argued that the relationships with task proactivity and personal initiative as indicators of proactive work behavior differ for the three SPS dimensions. Furthermore, based on the person-environment fit perspective, SPS was assumed to moderate the relationship between employees' job complexity and proactivity. The hypotheses were tested in two two-wave studies (N = 215 and N = 126). Across both studies, ease of excitation (EOE; i.e., the tendency to be easily overwhelmed by changes) was unrelated to proactivity. Low sensory threshold (LST; i.e., unpleasant arousal from external stimuli) was negatively related to personal initiative, only in Study 2, but it did not predict task proactivity. Meanwhile, aesthetic sensitivity (i.e., AES; awareness of and openness to positive stimuli) was positively related to proactivity, but in Study 2, this relationship could only be established for personal initiative. Moreover, job complexity was positively related to proactivity for those employees high but not for those low in AES. EOE and LST did not act as moderators. This study offers evidence of positive behavioral implications among highly sensitive persons when dealing with job complexity. Overall, the study presents an interesting point of departure for the role of SPS in employee proactivity that calls for more research.
... (Pfeiffer y Kinnealey, 2003). De igual modo, bajo la presión de realizar una tarea concreta las PAS ejecutaron dicho ejercicio de manera más rápida y precisa sin embargo terminaron con un nivel de ansiedad percibido (a través de un autoinforme) más elevado que el grupo control de personas no altamente sensibles (Gerstenberg, 2012). ...
Recopilación de estudios realizados por investigadores en formación a la sombra del Grupo de Investigación de Alto Rendimiento FERSE (Fundamentos de la Educación y Responsabilidad Social Educativa. Los estudios están vinculados a la línea de investigación preferente, no obstante, existen investigaciones que hacen aportaciones a diversas líneas.
... However, sensory sensitivity might well be associated with the broad spectrum of mental health conditions, e.g. through stress sensitivity. Subjective stress is found to be positively associated with self-reported sensory sensitivity in several student populations (Benham, 2006;Gearhart and Bodie, 2012;Gerstenberg, 2012). In children with autism, sensory sensitivity was also found to be related to increased concentrations of cortisol (Corbett et al., 2009). ...
In clinical practice, many individuals with psychiatric disorders report difficulties in sensory processing, including increased awareness or sensitivity to external stimuli. In this meta-analysis, we examined the sensory processing patterns of adolescent and adult individuals with a broad spectrum of different psychiatric conditions. A systematic search in various databases resulted in the inclusion of 33 studies (N=2008), all using the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP). By comparing diagnostic subgroups to the corresponding reference group of the AASP, we detected a general pattern of sensory processing, indicating elevated levels of low registration, sensory sensitivity and sensory avoiding and lowered sensory seeking behavior in patients with different types of psychiatric disorders. The majority of effect sizes were large to very large. In conclusion, sensory processing difficulties can be considered as a non-specific transdiagnostic phenotype associated with a broad spectrum of psychiatric conditions. Further research into relevance and role of sensory processing difficulties in psychiatric disorders may improve long-term prognosis and treatment.
... Out of 114 expatriates, 46 (40.4%) have expressed sever SP during COVID-19, they have scored above 3.5 on a five-point Likert scale. Sensory processing sensitivity revealed both negative and positive connotations of highly sensitive expatriates who were less willing to obtain new information yet, they were able to avoid errors and were high in conscientiousness (Aron & Aron, 1997;Gerstenberg, 2012). Increased sensitivity is likely to lower resources available to embrace support mechanisms, this lowers resource investment thus, influencing engagement levels. ...
The COVID 19 pandemic has changed the way that global businesses function, and has been the driving force behind a reevaluation of the factors that influence expatriate performance. This study empirically examines the mediating effects of perceived risk and sensitivity in the relationship between self‐initiated expatriates support mechanisms (perceived organizational support and host‐country national support) and expatriate performance during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The data from 114 expatriates working and residing in Malaysia between March 27 and May 14, 2020 was analyzed using structural equation modelling. The results from the study indicate that host country national support significantly influences expatriate performance indirectly through expatriate engagement, while perceived risk and sensitivity moderate the relationship between perceived organizational support and host country national support through expatriate engagement. The integration of factors that influence work performance during a pandemic, such as perceived risk and sensitivity, leads to a more concise view of expatriation. Organizations need to be more prepared in terms of risk induced scenarios, and propose suitable intervention programs to mitigate the potential negative outcomes due to a pandemic.
... However, high sensitivity is also known to be associated with daily activity performance dysfunctions, which have an impact on executive functioning and alter action management (Engel-Yeger & Rosenblum, 2021). This may increase the levels of stress while executing cognitive tasks and it can also generate more distress when performing tricky perceptual ones (Gerstenberg, 2012). Hence, HSPs may tend to avoid situations of increased arousal, as they require only low intensity stimuli to react (Dunn, 1997;Engel-Yeger et al., 2016). ...
The Questionnaire on Sensory Processing Sensitivity in Children (QSPSinCh) is designed to measure the personality trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) in children aged 3 to 10 years. SPS is a phenotypic personality trait, characterised by deep cognitive, sensory and emotional processing of environmental information. SPS presents a wide range of levels, as individuals may show low, medium and high sensitivity levels (Greven et al., 2019). Thus, the SPS phenomenon greatly influences different spheres of life (Acevedo, 2020).
... One of the most important reasons for this is that their expectations are met and they are satisfied with their work. However, employees with a weak commitment to the Organization want to leave easily as soon as they find a new job because they are looking for new job opportunities (Gerstenberg, 2012;Chen et al., 2015). For the organization, human resources management and organizational behavior demonstrated by employees are important (Acevedo et al., 2014). ...
Within the scope of the research, when organizations position their employees according to their abilities and expertise, this can contribute positively to the performance and productivity of the employees. However, when the pressure is put on employees and when the duties and responsibilities are given out of their knowledge, the employees desire to leave the organization starts to emerge. In other words, in cases of mobbing and role uncertainty, individuals who lose control feel themselves under pressure and unwillingly work while performing their duties. This situation also destroys the passion of the employees for their jobs. SPSS 25 and AMOS programs were used to analyze the data. Firstly, factor and reliability analysis were performed in the analyzes, and after these analyzes, correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationships between variables, and regression analysis was performed to test hypotheses. As a result of the research, mobbing and role uncertainty reveal employees' intentions to leave and decrease their performance. Within the scope of the research model, data were collected from 321 employees in institutions operating in the service sector (logistics companies), and the relationships and effects between mobbing, role uncertainty, intention to leave, and employee performance were examined.
... 4 The HSP measures a personal tendency, that may be partly determined genetically, towards general increased sensitivitya basic tendency for observing and noting more (i.e., processing more cues) at the cost of acting slower (Aron et al., 2012). HSP scores correlate with better performance in visual search (Gerstenberg, 2012), stronger neural activation in high-level visual processing areas when detecting small differences in visual scenes (Jagiellowicz et al., 2011) and with increase in both negative and positive emotional reactivity (Acevedo et al., 2014;Jagiellowicz, Aron, & Aron, 2016;Pluess et al., 2018). ...
Perceptual conscious experiences result from non-conscious processes that precede them. We document a new characteristic of the cognitive system: the speed with which visual meaningful stimuli are prioritized to consciousness over competing noise in visual masking paradigms. In ten experiments (N = 399) we find that an individual's non-conscious visual prioritization speed (NVPS) is ubiquitous across a wide variety of stimuli, and generalizes across visual masks, suppression tasks, and time. We also find that variation in NVPS is unique, in that it cannot be explained by variation in general speed, perceptual decision thresholds, short-term visual memory, or three networks of attention (alerting, orienting and executive). Finally, we find that NVPS is correlated with subjective measures of sensitivity, as they are measured by the Highly Sensitive Person scale. We conclude by discussing the implications of variance in NVPS for understanding individual variance in behavior and the neural substrates of consciousness.
... This is linked to being more easily overwhelmed by sensory input, which in turn is associated with the initiation of the physiological stress response. Indeed, humans scoring higher on SPS reported higher perceived stress levels than those scoring lower on the trait 41,42 , making them more vulnerable to the effects of stress. If cSPS in dogs really is analogous to SPS in humans, dogs scoring higher on the trait might be expected to have an increased susceptibility to stress and/or a lower threshold for stress to be induced, and therefore also an increased likelihood to develop behaviour problems. ...
Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a personality trait in humans characterised by a tendency to process information deeply, to be easily overstimulated, and to have strong emotional responses and an enhanced sensitivity to subtle stimuli. A trait similar to SPS has recently been identified in dogs (“canine Sensory Processing Sensitivity”, cSPS). In children, this trait interacts with parenting factors to influence emotional and mental development, which in turn are linked to behaviour problems. Paralleling these findings in humans, we demonstrate that cSPS interacts with owner personality and use of aversive communication to influence the likelihood of behaviour problems in dogs. More behaviour problems were reported for more highly sensitive dogs per se, when there was a relative mismatch between owner and dog personality, and when use of “negative punishment” was reported. These findings indicate that a dog’s personality might moderate how an individual is affected by environmental factors, particularly owner personality and communication style, emphasising the importance of considering individuality in prevention, development and treatment of behaviour problems in dogs.
... Similarly, Hebert (2015) found that underresponsivity was associated with increased impulsivity, whereas individuals with increased sensitivity are less impulsive. Lastly, sensory sensitivity was associated with better performance on a visual detection task but resulted in higher perceived stress among young adults (Gerstenberg, 2012). The aforementioned studies point to ways in which individuals with high sensory sensitivity are able to distinguish and respond to sensory elements in their environments quickly and with precision. ...
Background: While research has largely focused on the relationship between sensory processing patterns and internalizing behaviors (e.g., anxiety, depression) in children with autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, this relationship is not fully understood among the general population or across development.
Method: This scoping review addressed the following research question: How are sensory processing patterns associated with internalizing behaviors (e.g., anxiety, depression) among children with various conditions as well as typically developing children from birth to 22 years of age?
Results: Since 2005, n = 97 peer-reviewed articles have addressed this topic and were included in the current review. Overall, findings show a complex interplay between sensory processing patterns, internalizing behaviors, cognitive factors (intolerance of uncertainty, ritualism, cognitive rigidity), and personality characteristics.
Discussion: The results of this review showed that research primarily focused on individuals with ASD, and many articles used mediation models to examine complex relationships. Implications for future research are discussed.
... workload and emotional demands) and emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion-referring to feelings of being emotionally drained by one's job-is considered the central strain dimension of burnout [12], and is a typical outcome in the literature on SPS, as HSPs tend to invest more mental effort in each task due to deeper mental processing [30]. Furthermore, we expect SPS to amplify the relationship between job resources (i.e. ...
This study aimed to investigate whether people scoring higher (compared to lower) on sensory-processing sensitivity respond differently to the work environment. Specifically, based on the literature on sensory-processing sensitivity and the Job Demands-Resources model, we predicted that the three components of sensory-processing sensitivity (i.e. ease of excitation, aesthetic sensitivity and low sensory threshold) amplify the relationship between job demands (i.e. workload and emotional demands) and emotional exhaustion as well as the relationship between job resources (i.e. task autonomy and social support) and helping behaviour. Survey data from 1019 Belgian employees were analysed using structural equation modelling analysis. The results showed that ease of excitation and low sensory threshold amplified the relationship between job demands and emotional exhaustion. Low sensory threshold also strengthened the job resources–helping behaviour relationship. This study offered first evidence on the greater susceptibility among highly sensitive persons to the work environment and demonstrated that the moderating role might differ for the three components of sensory-processing sensitivity. Additionally, it adds sensory-processing sensitivity to the Job Demands-Resources model and highlights the idea that personal factors may act both as a personal vulnerability factor and a personal resource, depending on the nature of the perceived work environment.
... For example, in adult samples, while EOE and LST have often been reported to be positively associated with Negative Affect such as anxiety and depression (Liss, Timmel, Baxley, & Killingsworth, 2005), AES has been frequently found to correlate negatively with such variables (Smolewska, McCabe, & Woody, 2006) and positively with Positive Affect (Sobocko & Zelenski, 2015) and Self-Efficacy (Evers, Rasche, & Schabracq, 2008). Similarly, EOE and LST have been found to be positively correlated with Neuroticism and the Behavioural Inhibition System (Greven et al., 2019), while in some studies, the association between AES and Neuroticism was found to be trivial (Listou Grimen & Diseth, 2016;Pluess et al., 2018) or with low-to medium negative associations (Gerstenberg, 2012). SPS has also been reported to positively correlate with Openness, an association that seems to be mainly driven by the AES factor (Listou Grimen & Diseth, 2016;Smolewska et al., 2006). ...
In two Bayesian meta-analyses, we investigated associations between Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) and the Big Five personality traits (MA1) as well as both Positive and Negative Affect (MA2). Moderators were age and the three SPS subscales. In MA1 (8 papers, 6790 subjects), SPS in children correlated with Neuroticism (r = 0.42) but did not with Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness or Conscientiousness. In adults, SPS correlated with Openness (r = 0.14) and Neuroticism (r = 0.40) but did not with Extraversion, Agreeableness or Conscientiousness. In MA2 (19 papers, 5326 subjects), SPS in children correlated with Negative (r = 0.29) and Positive Affect (r = 0.21), but only with Negative Affect (r = 0.34) in adults. Developmental and measurement aspects are discussed.
... Bu beyin hareketliliğinin özellikle fark etmesi zor detaylar incelediği sırada daha yoğunlaştığı ve aşırı hassas bireylerin bu görevi yerine getirmek için daha fazla zaman harcadıkları görülmüştür. Benzer bir çalışmada ise aşırı hassas kişilerin görsel algılama ve tespit etme görevlerinde diğer kişilere göre daha az hata yaparak daha başarılı oldukları fakat Jagiellowicz ve arkadaşlarının (2011) bulgularının aksine verilen görevleri tamamlamak için daha az süreye ihtiyaç duydukları saptanmıştır (Gerstenberg, 2012). ...
Bu çalışmanın amacı Aron ve Aron (1997) tarafından geliştirilen ve son yıllarda özellikle kişilik psikolojisi alanında yaygın olarak çalışılan Duyusal İşlemleme Hassasiyeti (DİH; sensory processing sensitivity) üzerine yapılan çalış-maları derlemektir.DİH iç veya dış kaynaklı uyarıcılara karşı aşırı hassas olma durumu olarak tanımlanan kalıtımsal bir yetişkin mizaç özelliğidir. Bu yazıda DİH üzerine yapılmış geçmiş çalışmalar sistematik olarak taranmış ve altı alt bölümde derlenen 35 görgül çalışma ışığında konu detaylı olarak ele alınmıştır. Yapılan çalışmalarda DİH'in biyolojik altyapıya dayandığı ve utangaçlık, içekapanıklılık ve negatif duygulanım gibi kişilik özellikleriyle yakın ilişkili olduğu görülmüştür. DİH'in stres ve depresyon gibi olumsuz psikolojik değişkenlerle ilişkili bulunması aşırı hassas kişiler için dezavantaj olarak görülse de dış ve iç kaynaklı uyaranlara karşı hızlı farkındalık ve tepkisellik bu kişilik özelliğinin işlevsel yönünü ortaya koymaktadır. Alt başlıklarda özetlenen temel bulgular DİH'in kişilik özelliklerinden olumsuz psikolojik sonuçlara kadar birçok alanda önemli doğurguları olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu kapsamda ilgili kültürel faktörler ve gelecek çalışmalara ilişkin öneriler de tartışılmıştır.
Abstract This paper aims to systematically review the current literature on sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), proposed by Aron and Aron (1997), and that has recently been increasingly investigated especially within personality psychology. SPS is a genetically disposed adult temperament trait, which is described as being highly sensitive to internal and external stimulations. In the current review, previous studies on SPS have been thoroughly elaborated with a total of 35 empirical studies in six sub-areas. Reviewed studies have shown that SPS has a biological underpinning and is closely associated with certain personality traits, such as shyness, introversion, and negative affectivity. On the one hand, those with high levels of SPS have a tendency for having negative psychological outcomes, such as stress proneness and depression, which can be seen as a disadvantage. On the other hand, they have rapid awareness and keen reactivity to both external and internal stimuli, which can be considered as a functional aspect of this trait. Overall, findings have demonstrated that SPS has critical implications for a number of personality traits as well as positive and negative psychological outcomes. These implications were discussed considering the potential cultural factors and directions for future research.
... In line, while the Asians and Americans displayed increased activation of the frontal and parietal cortices when performing the more difficult task, this was not found in the high SPS individuals among the Asians and Americans (Aron et al., 2010). These results are consistent with a behavioural study involving German undergraduate students which showed that SPS was positively correlated with enhanced performance in a visual detection task (Gerstenberg, 2012). Interestingly, though no neurobiological correlates were investigated, SPS has been explored in association with other visual stimuli and preferences and, specifically, it has been investigated its association with blur tolerance (supposed to be lower in high SPS) and high-chroma colors preferences (supposed to be negatively associated with SPS). ...
Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a common, heritable and evolutionarily conserved trait describing inter-individual differences in sensitivity to both negative and positive environments. Despite societal interest in SPS, scientific knowledge is lagging behind. Here, we critically discuss how SPS relates to other theories, how to measure SPS, whether SPS is a continuous vs categorical trait, its relation to other temperament and personality traits, the underlying aetiology and neurobiological mechanisms, and relations to both typical and atypical development, including mental and sensory disorders. Drawing on the diverse expertise of the authors, we set an agenda for future research to stimulate the field. We conclude that SPS increases risk for stress-related problems in response to negative environments, but also provides greater benefit from positive and supportive experiences. The field requires more reliable and objective assessment of SPS, and deeper understanding of its mechanisms to differentiate it from other traits. Future research needs to target prevention of adverse effects associated with SPS, and exploitation of its positive potential to improve well-being and mental health.
... In line, while the Asians and Americans displayed increased activation of the frontal and parietal cortices when performing the more difficult task, this was not found in the high SPS individuals among the Asians and Americans (Aron et al., 2010). These results are consistent with a behavioural study involving German undergraduate students which showed that SPS was positively correlated with enhanced performance in a visual detection task (Gerstenberg, 2012). In two other behavioural studies with English undergraduates, high SPS groups were different on controlled and automatic attention tasks (Bridges, 2018, unpublished doctoral dissertation;Bridges & Schendan, under review b). ...
Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a trait describing inter-individual differences in sensitivity to environments, both positive and negative ones. SPS has attracted growing societal interest. However, (neuro)scientific evidence is lagging behind. We critically discuss how to measure SPS, how it relates to other theories of Environmental Sensitivity and other temperament and personality traits, how SPS interacts with environments to influence (a)typical development, what the underlying aetiologies and mechanisms are, and its relation to mental disorders involving sensory sensitivities. Drawing on the diverse expertise of the authors, we set an agenda for future research to stimulate the field. We conclude that SPS is a heritable, evolutionarily conserved trait, linked to increased risk for psychopathology and stress-related problems in response to negative environments, as well as to greater benefits (e.g., intervention responsivity, positive mood) in positive environments. We need advances in objective assessment of SPS, understanding mechanisms, differentiating it from (seemingly) related mental disorders, to exploit the potential of SPS to improve mental health, preserve human capital, and prevent adverse effects.
... We begin with the consideration that creativity is influenced by both stable characteristics and contextual conditions. Regarding stable traits, (Aron and Aron, 1997) suggested that people could differ in the way they neurologically transmit and process sensory information (Gerstenberg, 2012). It is the case of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), described as a personality trait modulated by genetic factors, which allows people to feel and process more information at one time, and in a deeper way. ...
Creativity, meant as the ability to produce novel, original and suitable ideas, has received increased attention by research in the last years, especially from neuroaesthetics and social neuroscience. Besides the research conducted on the neural correlates of such capacities, previous work tried to answer the question of whether it is possible to enhance creativity through cognitive and neural stimulation. In particular, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been applied to increase neuronal excitability in those areas related to creativity. However, being a complex construct that applies to a huge variety of situations, available results are often confusing and inconsistent. Thus, in the present critical review, after selecting original research articles investigating creativity with tDCS, results will be reviewed and framed according to the different effects of tDCS and its underlying mechanisms, which can be defined as follows: the promotion of self-focused attention; the disruption of inhibiting mechanisms; the enhancement of creative thinking; the promotion of artistic enactment. Finally, a theoretical perspective, the creative on/off model, will be provided to integrate the reported evidence with respect to both anatomical and functional issues and propose a cognitive explanation of the emergence of creative thinking.
... ponents and other psychological factors (e.g., Booth et al., 2015;Liss et al., 2008), further investigations are needed (Gerstenberg, 2012). ...
Sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS), the trait of being easily affected by a variety of environmental stimuli, is considered to be related to depressive tendencies. SPS can be measured on three sub-scales: low sensory threshold (LST), ease of excitation (EOE), and aesthetic sensitivity (AES). This study investigated the relationships among the levels of SPS, its sub-scales, depressive tendencies, and the frequency of physical exercise in Japanese university students. The participants (N = 275; mean age = 19.4, SD = 1.1) completed questionnaires that included an item on the frequency of physical exercise each week, as well as the Japanese version of the 19-item Highly Sensitive Person Scale and the Self-rating Depression Scale. The results showed that LST and EOE were positively related to depressive tendencies, which were moderated by increasing the frequency of physical exercise. AES was negatively related to depressive tendencies, which was a different result from LST and EOE. Hereafter, longitudinal approaches will be needed to reveal the effects of physical exercise on the relationships between LST or EOE and depressive tendencies.
Sensory issues impact participation and are frequent in people with schizophrenia. To provide clinicians in Spain with reliable and valid tools to assess sensory integration in adult mental health, we analyzed the internal reliability and discriminant validity of Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP-Spain). Cross-sectional descriptive study that analyzed internal reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha; n = 434 neurotypical) and discriminant validity (n = 18 schizophrenia; n = 54 neurotypical). Cronbach’s Alpha for AASP categories ranged from 0.69 to 0.73. Individuals with schizophrenia had higher scores (more problems) than controls in the three categories. The AASP-Spain offers promising internal reliability and discriminant validity.
Previous studies on the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) were primarily conducted in highly selective, mostly student populations. The objective of the present study was to examine the factor structure of the Dutch HSPS in the general population ( n = 998), prolonged fatigue ( n = 340), and chronic pain samples ( n = 283), and investigate its psychometric properties. The factorial structure of the HSPS was assessed by an exploratory factor analysis, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis. To this end, the overall sample consisting of 1,621 subjects was randomly split into two subsamples. The factor structure was subsequently confirmed in the general population, fatigue, and chronic pain samples separately. A bi-factor model, consisting of a general factor and three separate factors, provided the best fit to the data in each sample. The three separate factors, capturing different dimensions of sensory processing sensitivity, were labeled “Ease of Excitation” (11 items), “Sensory and Aesthetic Sensitivity” (5 items), and “Low Sensory Threshold” (5 items). Internal consistency was satisfactory. Distinct patterns of associations were found between these factors and (un)related personality constructs.
Very few studies have investigated the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) and interpersonal variables; none has particularly focused on romantic relationship satisfaction. In the context of romantic relationships, this study aimed to identify whether SPS is a risk factor (hypothesizing that traits make individuals more vulnerable to the effects of adverse environments) or a susceptibility marker (hypothesizing that traits make individuals more susceptible to the effects of both nourishing and adverse environments). To understand this, we tested whether an increased level of SPS is associated with a decreased level of romantic relationship satisfaction through negative affectivity and conflict resolution styles. Furthermore, we tested whether these proposed relationships intensified when the childhood environment was negative. A total of 206 unmarried young adults who had been in a romantic relationship for at least two years completed the measures of SPS, childhood environment, negative affectivity, conflict resolution styles, and relationship satisfaction. The results indicated that negative affectivity and negative conflict resolution styles mediated the association between SPS and satisfaction in a relationship; however, childhood environment did not moderate these relationships. These findings suggest that beyond childhood factors, SPS is an independent risk factor for developing negative outcomes in romantic relationships. This study also significantly contributes to the literature by revealing the possible mechanisms between SPS and romantic relationship satisfaction.
This investigation tested the effect of priming on pareidolia (the hearing of illusory words in ambiguous stimuli). Participants (41 women, 20 men, mean age 29.95 years) were assigned to primed (n = 30) or unprimed (n = 31) groups: the former were told the study was of ‘purported ghosts voices’, the latter ‘voices in noisy environments.’ Participants were assessed for perception of human voices within recordings of purported electronic voice phenomena (EVP), degraded human speech, normal human speech, and white noise. The primed group had significantly higher perception of voices within EVPs than in degraded speech, this difference was not found for unprimed participants. In contrast to the previous use of this design, the primed group did not have higher perception of voices in EVPs and degraded speech than did the unprimed group. The Aesthetic Sensitivity dimension of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) was associated with detection of degraded stimuli, but not with accuracy of stimulus identification. HSPS score was related to lifetime reporting of anomalous and paranormal experiences. This study partially replicates a paranormal priming effect and shows relationships between HSPS and detection of ambiguous stimuli and anomalous and paranormal experiences.
Cette étude porte sur la micro-analyse de séances de thérapie « bébé-parents » d’approche psychanalytique. Un intérêt spécifique est porté à la fois au dispositif thérapeutique mis en place autour des bébés « à risques d’autismes », et plus particulièrement à ceux en retrait relationnel, et au bénéfice d’une thérapie au plus tôt pour ces bébés (cf. plasticité neuronale et épigénétique). L’objectif principal est ainsi de créer une méthodologie (micro-analyse de séances filmées) et un outil (codage) permettant de mesurer les effets de la thérapie menée auprès de ces bébés accompagnés de leurs « partenaires ». Méthode : Le matériel étudié est constitué de séances « bébé-parents » filmées (N=99 bébés). Chaque bébé a été catégorisé ou exclu selon différents paramètres définis préalablement : âge du bébé ; potentiels facteurs de risques (pathologie ; condition à la naissance ; environnement ; sexe) ; résultats obtenus à la suite de l’administration de la grille PREAUT-OLLIAC (Olliac et al., 2017). Cette catégorisation a permis la réalisation d’un échantillonnage via la sélection d’un cas clinique. Une méthode de codage de film a été créée (élaboration d’une grille ; définition d’une procédure d’application) et nous avons ainsi codé les 9 séances de l’échantillon en utilisant le logiciel ELAN pour en extraire des statistiques par séance sur plusieurs items (temps moyens, minimum, maximum, écart-type). Dans un second temps, un rééchantillonnage a été fait (sélection de « coeurs de séance ») pour en extraire de nouvelles données. Résultats : Les principaux résultats obtenus sont ainsi : une catégorisation complète de la cohorte (N=37 ; 25 bébés à « risques d’autismes » vs 12 bébés « sans risques d’autismes » selon la grille PREAUT-OLLIAC) ; une grille et une procédure de codage inédites adaptées au contexte de thérapie « bébé-parents » ; des analyses quantitatives (statistiques) et qualitatives (selon la théorie psychanalytique) sur les deux niveaux d’échantillonnage (séances entières ; « coeurs de séance »). Bien que l’intérêt principal de cette étude porte davantage sur la mise en place du dispositif de micro-analyse, les deux micro-analyses statistiques que nous avons effectuées nous ont notamment permis de faire ressortir une corrélation entre un discours de l’adulte en mamanais adressé au bébé et une réponse de celui-ci par le regard dans le contexte de thérapie « bébé-parents ». Conclusions et perspectives : La micro-analyse sur le cas pilote nous a d’ores et déjà permis d’affiner nos processus et nos outils d’analyse (procédure d’échantillonnage, codage, statistiques). Les résultats statistiques obtenus sont naturellement à mettre en perspective de la taille de l’échantillon et de la méthode de codage. Ce dispositif de micro-analyse permettra notamment d’analyser et affiner la performance de nos outils thérapeutiques dans la thérapie « bébé-parents » dans le cas spécifique de bébés en retrait relationnel. Il sera enfin envisageable d’étendre le dispositif de micro-analyse en élargissant la population à des bébés présentant d’autres caractéristiques
The aim of the article is (1) to critically discuss Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) in light of personality theories and (2) to examine the validity of the only available measure of SPS, the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS). Study 1 (N = 289) examines the relations of the HSPS with facets of the Big Five. In Study 2 (N = 226), the HSPS’ relation to emotion recognition ability is estimated after controlling for the Big Five. In contrast to previous studies, these relationships are estimated at the level of latent variables. Our data suggest that SPS highly overlaps with established personality traits, and its relation with emotion recognition ability can be fully explained by Neuroticism and Openness to Experience.
Los PAS buscan ayuda profesional cuando sienten que tienen herida el alma. Se sienten diferentes, pero saben que pueden solucionar ese dolor que les impide seguir su camino. Los psicólogos sabemos que atender a tiempo esta demanda impide llevar al paciente a desarrollar un trastorno. Del mismo modo, en los menores aparecen signos para señalar que necesitan ayuda. Por otra parte, poseer el rasgo de la alta sensibilidad puede desembocar en una estrategia positiva en el desarrollo del individuo, dependiendo en gran medida del estilo de crianza en que se halle inmerso el menor. Los estilos educativos parentales, el conocimiento del rasgo y la interacción social, pueden llegar a ser determinantes para evitar un trastorno, o bien para atender y corregir a tiempo una dificultad.
El interés que despertó nuestro primer libro sobre Alta Sensibilidad nos ha animado a continuar con la divulgación del rasgo. Este segundo libro se centra más en las dificultades, así como, en las capacidades de ámbito psicológico que pueden afectar a las personas altamente sensibles. Saber gestionar el rasgo de la Alta Sensibilidad es fundamental para alcanzar el máximo potencial en el crecimiento personal de la Persona Altamente Sensible (PAS). De ahí la importancia de saber atender las necesidades de los niños y niñas altamente sensibles (NAS) desde edades tempranas. Los menores NAS son los adultos PAS. Resolver desde la infancia, evita tratamientos a edades más avanzadas.
El interés que despertó nuestro primer libro sobre Alta Sensibilidad nos ha animado a continuar con la divulgación del rasgo. Este segundo libro se centra más en las dificultades, así como, en las capacidades de ámbito psicológico que pueden afectar a las personas altamente sensibles. Saber gestionar el rasgo de la Alta Sensibilidad es fundamental para alcanzar el máximo potencial en el crecimiento personal de la Persona Altamente Sensible (PAS). De ahí la importancia de saber atender las necesidades de los niños y niñas altamente sensibles (NAS) desde edades tempranas. Los menores NAS son los adultos PAS. Resolver desde la infancia, evita tratamientos a edades más avanzadas.
A lo largo de la vida, un PAS, puede atravesar problemas o trastornos psicológicos pasajeros, derivados de una mala gestión de su rasgo. En estas páginas tratamos de reflejar ejemplos reales de personas que han acudido a consulta de psicología buscando solución a los “baches del camino”. Muchos PAS lo descubren a raíz de uno de estos altibajos en sus vidas. Saber tomar el camino adecuado, elegir tener cerca a personas que respetan el rasgo PAS y aprender a poner límites, son los objetivos más demandados por los PAS que acuden a Salud Mental.
Este libro pretende ayudar tanto a la persona lectora, como al profesional de la salud o de la medicina, ya que atendiendo a nuestra experiencia como expertos profesionales de la Alta Sensibilidad tratamos de ofrecer tanto, soluciones a los problemas que surgen por ser PAS, ejemplos de personas que han transitado las mismas etapas, así como mostrar aquellos trastornos más comunes derivados de tener esta personalidad tan particular. Aunque ser PAS o NAS no es ningún trastorno, es necesario aprender a adaptarse a la sociedad actual hasta que la sociedad se familiarice con la Alta Sensibilidad.
Expert opinion remains divided concerning the impact of putative risk factors on vulnerability to depression and other stress-related disorders. A large body of literature has investigated gene by environment interactions, particularly between the serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and negative environments, on the risk for depression. However, fewer studies have simultaneously investigated the outcomes in both negative and positive environments, which could explain some of the inconclusive findings. This is embodied by the concept of differential susceptibility, i.e., the idea that certain common gene polymorphisms, prenatal factors, and traits make some individuals not only disproportionately more susceptible and responsive to negative, vulnerability-promoting environments, but also more sensitive and responsive to positive, resilience-enhancing environmental conditions. Although this concept from the field of developmental psychology is well accepted and supported by behavioral findings, it is striking that its implementation in neuropsychiatric research is limited and that underlying neural mechanisms are virtually unknown. Based on neuroimaging studies that examined how factors mediating differential susceptibility affect brain function, we posit that environmental sensitivity manifests in increased salience network activity, increased salience and default mode network connectivity, and increased salience and central executive network connectivity. These changes in network function may bring about automatic exogenous attention for positive and negative stimuli and flexible attentional set-shifting. We conclude with a call to action; unraveling the neural mechanisms through which differential susceptibility factors mediate vulnerability and resilience may lead us to personalized preventive interventions.
Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a personality trait that describes highly neurosensitive individuals who, for better and for worse, are permeable to their environmental context. Recently, these individuals have been noted for their amenability to positive intervention efforts - an observation that may have important psychosocial value. SPS is currently assessed through the 27-item Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS). However, this instrument has not been adequately scrutinised in cross-cultural samples, and has generated varied factor solutions that lack consistent support. We assessed the HSPS in South African university student samples which were ethno-culturally diverse, across four academic years (n = 750). The HSPS demonstrated strong reliability across samples (α > .84). Factor analysis revealed a novel five-factor solution (Negative Affect, Neural Sensitivity, Propensity to Overwhelm, Careful Processing and Aesthetic Sensitivity). As per previous reports, latent class analysis suggested a three class solution. We validated these findings in a general population sample that was part of the longitudinal Birth to Twenty Plus cohort (n = 1400). In conclusion, we found the HSPS to be reliable in culturally diverse samples. The instrument remains a robust tool for identifying sensitive individuals and may be an important addition to psychosocial studies in low-to-middle income countries.
Markers of an increased sensitivity to environmental influences have been observed and investigated across several domains, phenotypically and endophenotypically. Currently, the most direct measures for capturing sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) are a series of questionnaires that cover the lifespan from middle childhood to adulthood; and more recently, an observational measure for preschoolers has also been proposed. This chapter provides an overview of theoretical perspectives of SPS within the environmental sensitivity framework and it introduces investigated phenotypic SPS markers and measures for assessing SPS in children and adults. It also provides the measures’ psychometric properties across cultures, their associations with other temperament and personality traits, and the interaction with environmental quality in predicting developmental outcomes and adjustment across the lifespan. Finally, the existence of sensitivity groups and how to assess group differences is discussed, together with new directions of research.
Background/aims:
A large proportion of patients at memory disorders clinics are classified as having subjective cognitive impairment (SCI). Previous research has investigated whether particular lifestyle factors known to affect cognition can be useful in differentiating patients who do not show objective evidence of memory decline. There may also exist subgroups of patients with respect to lifestyle factors that could help clinicians to understand the patient group that presents to memory clinics. These may differ in diagnostic outcome. Very little is known about potential subgroups; however, but such information may help guide interventions and potentially eliminate unnecessary diagnostic procedures. The current study investigated patterns of lifestyle-related variables, including stress, sleep, sensory sensitivity, depression, and negative life events in patients presenting to a memory disorders clinic. The aim was to determine whether subgroups existed and whether it was possible to distinguish those with objectively impaired cognition.
Methods:
One hundred and seventy-eight patients (mean age 58 years) from a University Hospital Memory Disorders Clinic.
Results:
Cluster analysis identified three groups of lifestyle-related variables. Strong determinants of clusters were negative life events and age. Patients with a high number of negative life events also tended to have highest self-reported memory complaint, higher levels of stress, depression, and sensory sensitivity. However, they did not perform the worst on memory testing. In contrast, individuals who performed the worst on memory tests were older, tended to have the least memory complaints, and less negative lifestyle factors; this group also included the highest proportion of patients with mild cognitive impairment and had the lowest median amyloid A-beta 42 (Aβ42). The group with the best cognitive performance were younger, included the highest proportion of patients with SCI and the highest median Aβ42. On lifestyle variables, their ratings fell in between the other groups.
Conclusions:
Lifestyle subgroups of patients were determined by stress, emotional problems, and age. The groups were significantly associated with Aβ42 and diagnostic outcome. This pattern may confound the differentiation between objective and subjective memory problems. Asking about lifestyle variables, in conjunction with neuropsychological testing, could potentially identify individuals who are not likely to have objective memory impairment and guide interventions.
Zusammenfassung. Der “Perceived Stress Questionnaire“ (PSQ) von Levenstein et al. (1993), ein Instrument zur Erfassung der aktuellen subjektiv erlebten Belastung, wurde in einer deutschen Fassung an N = 650 Probanden teststatistisch uberpruft (n = 249 stationar psychosomatische Patienten, n = 81 Frauen nach Fehlgeburt, n = 74 Frauen nach komplikationsloser Entbindung, n = 246 Medizinstudierende). Faktorenanalytisch finden sich - abweichend vom Original - 4 Faktoren (Sorgen, Anspannung, Freude, Anforderungen), die sich in 4 Skalen mit je funf Items uberfuhren lassen mit internen Konsistenzwerten zwischen Cronbachs Alpha = .80 und = .86. Der ursprungliche Umfang wurde von 30 auf 20 Items reduziert. Interkorrelationsmuster und Gruppendifferenzen legen nahe, das die ersten drei Skalen die interne Stresreaktion des Individuums abbilden, wahrend die Skala “Anforderungen“ die Wahrnehmung auserer Stressoren fokussiert. Fur die Konstruktvaliditat sprechen Zusammenhangsmuster mit Merkmalen der subjektiven Lebensqua...
In this study, the construct validity of an instrument for the measurement of sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS), the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS), was examined. Among the outcomes, first, the results confirm an earlier conclusion of researchers that the HSPS does not measure a one-dimensional construct. Most hypotheses concerning relationships with the personality variables sense of coherence, alienation, self-efficacy, and negative affectivity were supported. Second, the SPS-construct was introduced into the field of work stress. Positive relationships with work stress facets pertaining to the second stage of stress were found. Third, the user-friendliness of the HSPS was addressed by shortening the instrument without affecting its reliability and validity. Implications for interventions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Both avoidant and borderline personality disorder (APD and BPD) are theoretically associated with temperamental vulnerabilities, adverse attachment experiences, and negative (pessimistic or catastrophic) reactions to the threat of perceived rejection; however, more work is needed to differentiate how these processes account for the etiology and maintenance of both disorders. In this study, 156 adults completed questionnaires measuring APD and BPD features, temperament ( sensory-processing sensitivity), mood, and attachment experiences. A vignette task was devised to examine pessimistic cognitive-affective reactions in situations signaling potential rejection. Both APD and BPD were associated with temperamental sensitivity, but BPD was uniquely linked with a subscale measuring sensitivity to mental and emotive stimuli, whereas APD was uniquely linked with a subscale measuring the control and avoidance of aversive stimulation. Compared to APD, BPD was more strongly linked with negative moods (anxiety, anger, sadness) and insecure attachment to parents, whereas APD was more strongly linked (than BPD) to pessimistic cognitive-affective responses to rejection-related situations.
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity, personality dimensions and mental health. In a sample of University of Mohaghegh Ardabili students. One hundred and eighty students were included in this study. All participants were asked to complete the highly sensitive person scale, NEO-five factor inventory and general health questionnaire. Analysis of the data involved both descriptive and inferential statistics including means, standard deviations, Pearson's correlation coefficients and regression analysis. The results revealed that ease of excitation was positively correlated to neuroticism and mental health (physical problems, anxiety, disorder in social functioning and depression) and negatively related to extra version. Aesthetic sensitivity was positively related to neuroticism, openness to experience, consienciousness and anxiety. Low sensory threshold was also positively related to neuroticism, physical problems, anxiety and mental health. The results of regression analysis revealed that sensory processing sensitivity can explain considerable variances of personality traits and mental health.
This study focused on a possible temperament-by-culture interaction. Specifically, it explored whether a basic temperament/personality trait (sensory processing sensitivity; SPS), perhaps having a genetic component, might moderate a previously established cultural difference in neural responses when making context-dependent vs context-independent judgments of simple visual stimuli. SPS has been hypothesized to underlie what has been called inhibitedness or reactivity in infants, introversion in adults, and reactivity or responsivness in diverse animal species. Some biologists view the trait as one of two innate strategies-observing carefully before acting vs being first to act. Thus the central characteristic of SPS is hypothesized to be a deep processing of information. Here, 10 European-Americans and 10 East Asians underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing simple visuospatial tasks emphasizing judgments that were either context independent (typically easier for Americans) or context dependent (typically easier for Asians). As reported elsewhere, each group exhibited greater activation for the culturally non-preferred task in frontal and parietal regions associated with greater effort in attention and working memory. However, further analyses, reported here for the first time, provided preliminary support for moderation by SPS. Consistent with the careful-processing theory, high-SPS individuals showed little cultural difference; low-SPS, strong culture differences. © The Author (2010). Published by Oxford University Press. For Permissions, please email: [email protected]
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This exploratory study examined the extent to which individual differences in sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), a temperament/personality
trait characterized by social, emotional and physical sensitivity, are associated with neural response in visual areas in
response to subtle changes in visual scenes. Sixteen participants completed the Highly Sensitive Person questionnaire, a standard
measure of SPS. Subsequently, they were tested on a change detection task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI). SPS was associated with significantly greater activation in brain areas involved in high-order visual processing (i.e.
right claustrum, left occipitotemporal, bilateral temporal and medial and posterior parietal regions) as well as in the right
cerebellum, when detecting minor (vs major) changes in stimuli. These findings remained strong and significant after controlling for neuroticism and introversion,
traits that are often correlated with SPS. These results provide the first evidence of neural differences associated with
SPS, the first direct support for the sensory aspect of this trait that has been studied primarily for its social and affective
implications, and preliminary evidence for heightened sensory processing in individuals high in SPS.
A 30-question Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) was validated, in Italian and English, among 230 subjects. Test-retest reliability was 0.82 for the General (past year or two) PSQ, while monthly Recent (past month) PSQs varied by a mean factor of 1.9 over 6 months; coefficient alpha > 0.9. General and/or Recent PSQ scores were associated with trait anxiety (r = 0.75), Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (r = 0.73), depression (r = 0.56), self-rated stress (r = 0.56), and stressful life events (p < 0.05). The General PSQ was higher in in-patients than in out-patients (p < 0.05); both forms were correlated with a somatic complaints scale in a non-patient population (r > 0.5), and were higher, among 27 asymptomatic ulcerative colitis patients, in the seven who had rectal inflammation than in those with normal proctoscopy (p = 0.03). Factor analysis yielded seven factors, of which those reflecting interpersonal conflict and tension were significantly associated with health outcomes. The Perceived Stress Questionnaire may be a valuable addition to the armamentarium of psychosomatic researchers.
Over a series of 7 studies that used diverse samples and measures, this research identified a unidimensional core variable of high sensory-processing sensitivity and demonstrated its partial independence from social introversion and emotionality, variables with which it had been confused or subsumed in most previous theorizing by personality researchers. Additional findings were that there appear to be 2 distinct clusters of highly sensitive individuals (a smaller group with an unhappy childhood and related variables, and a larger group similar to nonhighly sensitive individuals except for their sensitivity) and that sensitivity moderates, at least for men; the relation of parental environment to reporting having had an unhappy childhood. This research also demonstrated adequate reliability and content, convergent, and discriminant validity for a 27-item Highly Sensitive Person Scale.
The territory that psychologists explore is still largely uncharted; so to find Eysenck’s model for personality in the middle of this terra incognita is rather like stumbling across St. Pancras Station in the heart of the African jungle. Faced with this apparition, one’s first question is, not “does it work?”, but “what’s it for?” This, indeed, is the right question to ask. Eysenck’s model bestrides the field of personality like a colossus. There have been other attempts to describe personality, notably Cattell’s and Guilford’s, and other attempts to explain it, above all, Pavlov’s and Teplov’s: but no one has tried to achieve both these aims on the same scale as Eysenck. In consequence, it is extremely difficult to see the Eysenckian edifice in perspective: there are too few other buildings with which to compare it, only the surrounding trackless jungle. It is by asking “what’s it for?” that we can best provide this perspective. In answer to this question, Fig. 8.1 dis plays what I take to be the general structure of Eysenck’s theory of extra version-introversion (E-I) and neuroticism (N).
The goal of the current investigation was to better understand the relationships between the three recently-developed factors of sensory processing sensitivity (ease of excitation – EOE, low sensory threshold – LST, and aesthetic sensitivity – AES) and alexithymia, autism symptoms, anxiety, and depression. Two hundred and one college students completed the highly sensitive person scale, as well as measures of anxiety, depression, alexithymia, and autism symptoms. EOE and LST were related to autism symptoms, alexithymia, anxiety, and depression. AES was related to attention to details (a symptom of autism) and anxiety but not to depression. It was also negatively related to externally-oriented thinking (a symptom of alexithymia). Results indicate that AES is conceptually distinct from LST and EOE. Furthermore, EOE interacted with difficulty identifying feelings in predicting anxiety, indicating that being both easily excited by stimuli and unable to identify one’s feelings is particularly anxiety provoking.
The problem dealt with in this book was raised in a classical query over 2000 years ago by Theophrastus, in his book Characters, written when he was 99 years old: “Why is it that while all Greece lies under the same sky and all the Greeks are educated alike, yet we all have characters differently constituted?” Individuality in human beings is so pronounced, and variability so common, that many have despaired of finding any scientific basis for constructing a model of personality; Allport (1937) has given a clear discussion of the many problems raised. The ancient Greeks suggested an answer in terms of traits and types; the theory of the four temperaments which they put forward has lasted longer than perhaps any other psychological theory, but of course it is open to many criticisms. Can modern psychology do any better?
Related visual sensitivity, operationally defined as the inverse of lower absolute threshold, and measured by a method similar to that described by E. N. Sokolov, to extraversion as measured by the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Results indicated relationship between sensitivity and introversion, although neuroticism appears to be a confounding variable. (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
findings in the general field of the relationship between personality and psychobiology
the study of personality has two interlocking aspects that nevertheless require to be kept distinct / the first, is the descriptive or taxonomic aspect, dealing with the ways in which the holistic concept of "personality" can be split up into traits, dimensions, types, or whatever / the other . . . is more concerned with causal elements, including genetics, as well as environmental factors / biological phenomena can help in the testing of taxonomic theories, and may also be able to test causal theories
taxonomic theories, causal theories, and their hazards / biological theories of personality / extraversion-introversion / electroencephalography / electrodermal responses / neuroticism and psychoticism (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
The Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) scale is a measure of sensory-processing sensitivity, which is conceptualized as involving both high levels of sensitivity to subtle stimuli and being easily overaroused by external stimuli. The current study examines the relationship between an individual’s sensory-processing sensitivity, self-perceived stress, and physical symptom reports. Results indicated that sensory-processing sensitivity is positively correlated with levels of stress and symptoms of ill-health. After controlling for self-perceived stress and gender, the HSP scale added significantly to a hierarchical regression model predicting self-reported health. The inclusion of an interaction term in the model proved to be non-significant, suggesting that the relationship between stress, sensory-processing sensitivity and health is best explained by an additive model. Future research examining personality factors in health and illness may benefit from the inclusion of the HSP measure.
High levels of central norepinephrine may be one of the possible bases for the relation between physiological and behavioral characteristics in introverts and extraverts. Olfactory sensitivity may provide an indirect measure of central norepinephrine levels due to the strong direct innervation of the olfactory bulb by projections from the locus coeruleus. In study 1, extremely shy, male adults had lower olfactory thresholds, more lightly colored eyes, and slightly more ectomorphic physiques than extremely sociable male adults. In study 2, extremely shy, blue-eyed males had somewhat lower olfactory thresholds and were significantly more ectomorphic than sociable brown-eyed males. A meta-analysis of the two studies indicated that both olfactory threshold and physique were significantly different for blue-eyed, shy males and brown-eyed, sociable males. These findings lend modest support to the hypothesis that the two groups differ in threshold of limbic responsivity to novelty as a result of differences in central norepinephrine levels.
Aron and Aron (1997) developed the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) to measure individual differences in sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS). The purpose of the present study was to examine further the psychometric properties of the HSPS, and its association with the behavioural inhibition system (BIS) and behavioural activation system (BAS) (Carver & White, 1994), and the “Big Five” (Costa & McCrae, 1992). Results demonstrate that the HSPS is a valid and reliable measure of the construct of SPS. However, in contrast to Aron and Aron’s finding that the scale is unidimensional, the current results support a three-component structure consisting of Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES), Low Sensory Threshold (LST), and Ease of Excitation (EOE). BIS activity was especially associated with the component of EOE. In addition, the components had different patterns of association with the “Big Five”. More specifically, AES showed the strongest relation with Openness to Experience, while LST and EOE were found to be most closely associated with Neuroticism.
Sensory processing sensitivity is a recently proposed construct referring to a tendency to process a variety of information more strongly and deeply than others. Although some research has found links between sensory processing sensitivity and psychological difficulties, highly sensitive people may not necessarily be predisposed to negative affect, but may be more sensitive to poor parenting. Two hundred thirteen college students were given a measure of sensory processing sensitivity (the HSPS), the parental bonding scale (measuring parental care and over-protection), the trait anxiety scale, and the Beck depression inventory. Sensory processing sensitivity predicted both anxiety and depression above and beyond parental factors, indicating that it may be an independent risk factor. An interaction was found between sensory processing sensitivity and parental care when measuring depression. Highly sensitive people may be particularly sensitive to uncaring parents. Results indicate that sensory processing sensitivity may be a temperamental disposition that interacts meaningfully with environmental factors.
Visual search is a favourite paradigm for researchers interested in attention because of its ease of implementation and interpretation. Typically, visual search requires the participant to indicate the presence or absence of a prespecified target. Although the slope ratio for present versus absent trials is no longer considered to be indicative of whether search is serial or not, target detection remains a staple amongst studies examining theoretical and empirical aspects of attention. The current study sought to compare within subjects three tasks in a visual search paradigm, detection, localisation, and identification, using identical stimuli. Detection differed in both pattern of error rates and slope from both identification and localisation. Moreover, the slopes from identification and localisation were significantly correlated, whilst neither was significantly correlated with slopes from the detection task. These results suggest that researchers interested in using slopes to estimate search efficiency should use localisation or identification, rather than target detection.
Detection thresholds for electrocutaneous stimulation were measured in young male subjects by two different methods - a method of limits and a forced-choice method - the latter assumed to be less influenced by decision processes. Relations between the threshold measures and scores in the EPI extraversion (E) and neuroticism (N) scales were studied. High N-low E ("unstable introvert") subjects had the lowest thresholds. The result is in line with the predictions made on the basis of Eysenck's personality theory.
The sensitivity of 10 extraverts, 10 ambiverts, and 10 introverts to auditory stimuli was determined by a signal detection procedure. Under the low-frequency condition, introverts were significantly more sensitive than extraverts. Under the high-frequency condition, extraverts showed a significant increase in sensitivity, the introverts tended to show a relative decrease in sensitivity. Results endorse Eysenck's proposed relation of extraversion and the reticular formation arousal system.
SCHALLING, D. Tolerance for experimentally induced pain as related to personality. Scand. J. Psychol., 1971, 12, 271–281.–Relations between responses to noxious electrical stimulation (pain thresholds and tolerance levels) and personality variables were studied in a group of z6 students. Method of stimulation increase was found to be an important factor. When continuous stimulation increase was applied, the pain measures were significantly related only to scores in the Solidity scale of the Marke-Nyman Temperament inventory, low Solidity (extravert-impulsive) subjects showing high pain tolerance. When stimulation was increased in discrete steps (shocks), the pain measures were significantly related to scores in neuroticism-psychasthenia and extraversion scales, psychasthenic subjects being less and extravert subjects more tolerant of the stimulation. These results are consistently in the expected directions and are well in line with the implications of the personality concepts. Pain thresholds and tolerance levels were significantly correlated and showed similar patterns of correlation with the personality variables.
The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between tendencies towards different mental health problems assessed via questionnaires (social phobia, agoraphobia, general anxiety/panic, depression), the two latent dimensions of behavioural inhibition (childhood social/school fears, non-social fears/ illness), and sensory-processing sensitivity.
A cross-sectional design was employed.
Volunteer participants (N = 234) from anxiety and depression self-help organizations completed five mailed questionnaires. These were the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory II and Beck Anxiety Inventory; the Highly Sensitive Person Scale, a measure of trait sensitivity to environmental stimuli; and the Retrospective Self-Report of Inhibition.
Higher levels of anxiety, but not depression, were associated with increased self-reported sensitivity to environmental stimuli. Recalled childhood social/school fears were related to elevated scores on measures of social phobia and depression, while recalled non-social fears/illness were not associated with any index of psychopathology.
These results extend those of previous research by suggesting specific patterns of relationships of both sensitivity to environmental stimuli and behavioural inhibition with symptoms of anxiety and depression. It is suggested that in investigating long-term outcome, prospective behavioural inhibition studies would benefit from examining the temporal corollaries of the underlying social and non-social dimensions. Sample and design limitations are discussed.
Sensory-processing sensitivity is assumed to be a heritable vulnerability factor for shyness. The present study is the first to examine sensory-processing sensitivity among individuals with social anxiety disorder. The results showed that the construct is separate from social anxiety, but it is highly correlated with harm avoidance and agoraphobic avoidance. Individuals with a generalized subtype of social anxiety disorder reported higher levels of sensory-processing sensitivity than individuals with a non-generalized subtype. These preliminary findings suggest that sensory-processing sensitivity is uniquely associated with the generalized subtype of social anxiety disorder. Recommendations for future research are discussed.
NEO PI-r. NEO Persönlichkeitsinventar– revidierte Form Tolerance for experimentally induced pain as related to personality
- F Ostendorf
- A Angleitner
Ostendorf, F., & Angleitner, A. (2004). NEO PI-r. NEO Persönlichkeitsinventar– revidierte Form. Göttingen: Hogrefe. Schalling, D. (1971). Tolerance for experimentally induced pain as related to personality. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 12, 271–281.
- P T Costa
- R R Mccrae
Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-r) and
NEO Five Factor Inventory. Professional manual. Odessa: Psychological
Assessment Resources.
NEO PI-r. NEO Persönlichkeitsinventarrevidierte Form
- F Ostendorf
- A Angleitner
Ostendorf, F., & Angleitner, A. (2004). NEO PI-r. NEO Persönlichkeitsinventarrevidierte Form. Göttingen: Hogrefe.