Brain network dynamics correlate with personality traits

Abstract

Identifying the neural substrates underlying the personality traits is a topic of great interest. On the other hand, it is now established that the brain is a dynamic networked system which can be studied using functional connectivity techniques. However, much of the current understanding of personalityrelated differences in functional connectivity has been obtained through the stationary analysis, which do not capture the complex dynamical properties of brain networks. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of dynamic network measures to predict personality traits. Using the EEGsource connectivity method combined with a sliding window approach, dynamic functional brain networks were reconstructed from EEG data acquired from 45 subjects during resting state. Then, several dynamic functional connectivity metrics were evaluated. Results showed a negative correlation between neuroticism and the dynamic variability of temporal lobe regions in terms of strength. In addition, a positive correlation was found between agreeableness and centrality variability of the posterior cingulate, which is known as a key hub in resting state networks. Results also revealed that extraversion is positively correlated with the dynamics of the superior parietal region. These findings highlight the importance of tracking the dynamics of functional brain networks to improve our understanding about the neural substrates of personality.

A Graph Theory-Based Modeling of Functional Brain Connectivity Based on EEG: A Systematic Review in the Context of Neuroergonomics

“…An extension, known as the dynamic brain network, has been applied to track the spatiotemporal dynamics of functional brain networks. It is based on the use of the EEG source connectivity combined with a sliding window approach [285]. Changes to reconfigurations of connectivity patterns over time have been observed in task-based [286] and even in resting state [287] studies.…”

The concert of personality: Explaining personality functioning and coherence by personality systems interactions

“…Whereas social-cognitive approaches typically focus on the structure of self-representations within the self, neurocognitive approaches extend this focus toward investigating “between-systems coherence” as the term “coherence” is often used to express spatiotemporal synchronizations (“binding”) among brain networks, that is, their interactions (Fries, 2015). Only recently, personality research (“personality neuroscience”; see Corr, 2020) has intensified research on interactions among neural systems, to investigate personality processes and traits (Allen & DeYoung, 2017; Kabbara et al, 2020; Markett et al, 2018). Tops and colleagues (2014, 2021) draw on literature reviews to analyze the interaction of four large-scale brain networks that effectively correspond with the PSI theory macrosystems.…”

Brain network topology and personality traits: A source level magnetoencephalographic study

“…However, neither can be directly compared to our study. One study considered a psychopathological population (James, Engdahl, Leuthold, Krueger & Georgopoulos, 2015), while the other used a different personality model (Kabbara, Paban, Weill, Modolo & Hassan, 2020).…”