The Correlations between Chinese Personality Traits and Cortical Activation

Abstract

The majority of studies investigating correlations between personality and neuroscience have used the Big-Five personality scales developed in Europe and North America. This is the first study to address correlations between Chinese personality traits and cortical activation.

In this study, we used the Chinese Personality Adjective Rating Scale to analyze the personalities of 23 respondents. We also used functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the correlations between Chinese personality traits and cortical activation. The results of this study indicated that Optimism/ Pessimism, Extraversion/Introversion, and Industriousness/ Unindustriousness from the Chinese Personality Adjective Scale were correlated with Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness from the Big Five personality traits. The activation positions were consistent with those identified in earlier studies. Additionally, this study indicated that the clearest position of activation for the dimension of competence vs. impotence was the supplementary motor area. The temporal gyrus and hippocampus were negatively correlated with moral character. The activation of the limbic system was positively correlated with large-mindedness vs. small-mindedness, and the thalamus, temporal lobe, and parietal lobe were positively correlated with flexibility vs. rigidity.

This is the first study to address correlations between Chinese personality traits and cortical activation. The results of this study can serve as an essential reference for research on Chinese personality traits and neuroscience.