neuroscience test 2 Flashcards
what are the neurological theories of personality
- Eysenck’s PEN model
- Reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST)
what are the neurological correlates of personality
extraversion and neuroticism
and
sensation seeking
explain personality and neuroscience and which comes first
does physiology determine personality or does personality determine physiology
-brain anatomy function -> personality
or
-personality -> brain functioning (experiences is a mediator), personality leads to experiences which can affect brain functioning but it goes the other way too
explain Eysenck’s PEN model
Psychoticism: antisocial, withdrawn, loner, hostile, also has impulse control component (aspects of agreeableness and conscientiousness)
Extraversion: same as big 5 definition
Neuroticism: same as big 5 definition
what is the evidence for a genetic/biological basis of Eysenck’s PEN model
1) cross cultural research: evidence for these 3 traits across cultures
2) stable over lifespan
3) heritability: variation in trait can be explained by genetic differences
in the “neurology of extraversion” what might extraverts and introverts differ in
they might differ with regards to arousal
1) arousal level: cortical arousal, activity in brain
2) arousability: sensitivity to stimuli
where is arousal level hypothesized to be affected by
Reticular activity system: network in brain stem that controls overall degree of cortical alertness or level of consciousness
-controls alertness, wakefulness, sleep, coma, etc
what is the hypothesis surrounding arousal level in extraverts and introverts and what is the results of this hypothesis
hypothesized introverts have higher baseline of cortical arousal and extraverts have lower baseline of cortical arousal - because introverts are higher at baseline they might not seek out as much stimulation to increase arousal like extraverts
results: when looking at EEG, there is no differences in cortical arousal between extraverts and introverts (does not support hypothesis)
what is the hypothesis for arousability in introverts and extraverts
introverts are more sensitive to stimuli so would not seek it, extraverts are less sensitive so they would seek it (both same at baseline)
what is the evidence that supports the arousability hypothesis for introverts and extraverts (methods and IV and DVs)
method: undergrads do cognitive task while being bombarded with white noise bursts
IVs: (choice and volume)
1) choice condition: can not turn off noise but pick volume
2) assigned same: same volume as someone with similar personality (that person chose)
3) assigned different: same volume as someone with different personality profile (that person chose)
DVs:
1) arousal level (pulse rate and galvonic skin response)
2) how well they did on task
results of arousability hypothesis for introverts and extraverts study
-overall extraverts picked louder noise than introverts
pulse rate:
- when extraverts and introverts choose their noise intensity they have same pulse rate (introverts just choose lower intensity)
- when introverts and extraverts given noise by someone with same personality noise level and arousal about the same as choice condition
- when given noise level by someone with opposite personality introverts have higher arousal and extraverts have lower arousal
trials to learn rule of cognitive task:
- when extraverts were exposed to introvert choice they did worse (did better with more noise)
- when introverts were exposed to extravert choice they did worse (did better with less noise)
so, evidence for differences in arousability
show the result graphs of the arousability hypothesis for introverts and extraverts study
on paper
explain the neurology of neuroticism (hypothesis)
linked to instability of sympathetic nervous system
- part that gets activated during fight or flight
- pupils dilate, HR goes up, respiration increases, digestion gets put on pause
- parasympathetic nervous system brings people back to baseline
- hypothesis is that neuroticism is sensitivity (higher levels) in SNS or instability
what is the evidence of the neurology of neuroticism (hypothesis)
there is no evidence that neuroticism is linked to instability in sympathetic nervous system
what does the Reinforcement Sensitivty Theory (RST, Gray) state
there are 2, later 3, brain behavior systems
what does the original RST-2 Theory include
1) Behavioral Approach System (BAS)
- reward sensitivity, very reinforcing to a person
- referred to as “go” system
- reacts to appetitive (desirable) stimuli (food, sex, etc)
2) Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS)
- punishment sensitivity
- “stop” system
- reacts to aversive stimuli
both systems are biologically based and future oriented and important for goal pursuit and motivation
what does the Revised Theory (RST-3) include
adds another system
3) Fight-Flight-Freeze System (FFFS)
- responds to aversive stimuli (life threatening)
- present oriented, there is a threat to safety right now
what does the Revised Theory (RST-3) add a more complex conceptualization of
BIS
- involved in conflict resolution between two systems
ex. BAS vs. FFFS
ex. dentist procedure (BAS says this is good for teeth, FFFS gives you motive to flee because painful)
what are the two key predictions in the RST model
1) individual differences in sensitivity to reward and punishment
- high in BAS = more sensitive to rewards
- high in BIS = more sensitive to punishment
2) learning implications
- avoiding punishment might be the way people high in BIS learn the best
- gaining reward = learning in BAS
what is evidence for the individual differences in sensitivity in RST model hypothesis
BAS individuals brains are more responsive to photos of appetizing food
-typically seen in reward centers with dopamine activity
what is evidence for learning differences in RST model hypothesis (study)
method: assessed BIS vs. BAS, did computer task and shown random number and had to respond (press spacebar) or do nothing, sometimes responding is right and other times it is wrong, had to try and figure out rule of what numbers to respond to
reward trial: if correct answer was to respond and they were right, won 25 cents, if they did nothing they got nothing (pair action with reward)
punishment trial: if person responds and was supposed to do nothing they lose 25 cents, if correctly do nothing they got nothing (pairing inaction with avoiding punishment)
results: High BAS people learn rule faster in the reward trials (pairing action and reward)
- High BIS people learn rule faster in the punishment trials (pairing inaction with avoidance of punishment)
explain gambling in BIS and BAS
high BIS people like slots
high BAS people like horse racing
what are the two neurological correlates of personality
- extraversion: prone to positive emotions
- neuroticism: prone to negative emotions
explain differences in brain activity in extroversion and neuroticism
cortex is divided into 4 lobes (temporal and frontal are involved with emotion)
-for extroversion, more activity when viewing positive pictures
-for neuroticism, more activity when viewing negative pictures
(when participants put in fMRI and shown pictures)
