PERSONALITY, EVENT-RELATED POTENTIAL (ERP) AND HEART-RATE (HR) - AN INVESTIGATION OF GRAYS THEORY

Following Gray's theory of personality, the aim of the study was to ex amine the role of the personality dimensions, behavioural inhibition a nd activation, in mediating event-related potentials (ERPs) and the le vel of anticipatory heart rate (HR) deceleration response during two v isual-stimulus recognition tasks. In the first task ERPs and anticipat ory HR changes were elicited by feedback words informing the subjects about the quality of their response ('correct', 'incorrect'). In the s econd task EPPs and HR responses were elicited from 62 women by feedba ck words ('losing', 'winning') indicating losing or winning, of amount s of money. The Gray-Wilson Personality Questionnaire (GWPQ), the Eyse nck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and the I-7 questionnaire were use d to measure variables which refer to the function of the activation a nd inhibition system. The N200, P300, N400, P650 and N800 peak amplitu des of the ERPs and the level of anticipatory HP deceleration response to the feedback signals were measured. Personality and physiological responses were first analysed by using a split-plot ANOVA design and s econd by examining multiple relationships with factor analysis. Separa te ANOVAs were performed across Ss selected from the total group (n = 62) on the basis of extreme scores (high or low) on Approach (APPR), P assive Avoidance (PASS.AV), Extinction (EXTI), Extraversion (E), Neuro ticism (N) and Impulsiveness (I). In line with Gray's prediction, high APPR Ss exhibited larger P600 peak amplitudes to signals indicating w inning and low APPR Ss exhibited larger P600 amplitudes to signals ind icating losing. Neurotic Ss produced larger N800 peak amplitudes to st imuli indicating losing as compared with stimuli indicating winning. S table Ss, in contrast, did not display differences between feedback st imuli. Heart-rate deceleration response to feedback signals was succes sful in distinguishing high and low N Ss as well as Introverts and Ext raverts. Neurotic Ss, compared with Stable ones, showed a more pronoun ced anticipatory HR slowing for both of the feedback signals. Introver ts displayed more pronounced HP decelerations for punishment compared with reward signals. Extraverts, in contrast, showed greater HR decele rations for reward compared with punishment signals. These results wer e all in line with predictions that can be derived from Gray's theory. However, in the opposite direction was the relationship between PASS. AV and N200 peak: High PASS.AV Ss displayed greater N200 peak amplitud es to winning signals compared with signals indicating a correct respo nse. Results from factor analysis gave rise to a three-factor solution wherein personality dimensions sensitive to signals of reward and tha t sensitive to signals of punishment were loading together with differ ent physiological factors. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd