Does the size of your brain — or, more specifically, different regions of it — say anything about your personality? According to a new study, maybe.
Using magnetic resonance imaging and personality questionnaires, Colin DeYoung, a University of Minnesota psychology professor, and his colleagues investigated the biological basis of extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness/intellect. Results appeared in the June issue of Psychological Science.
MRI scans of self-described extroverts revealed a significantly larger medial orbitofrontal cortex — the area involved with keeping track of rewards, researchers said.
The posterior cingulate cortex and superior temporal sulcus, an area linked to understanding others, were larger in people who identified themselves as agreeable. Above-average conscientiousness was associated with a larger region of the lateral prefrontal cortex.
Self-described neurotics, who tended to experience negative emotions, had smaller brain volumes in areas known to regulate emotion.
The only trait without a significant neuroanatomical relationship, according to the report, was openness/intellect.
