Slide 1ObjectivesThe Anatomy of Personality: Study of Brain SystemsThe Anatomy of Personality: Examples of Brain SystemsSlide 5Slide 6Slide 7“Reward Processing”: 2 dimensions, not all one thing!Slide 9Can feeling too good be bad???The Biochemistry of PersonalitySlide 12The Biochemistry of Personality: NeurotransmittersSlide 14The Biochemistry of Personality: NeurotransmittersSlide 16The Biochemistry of Personality: NeurotransmittersThe Biochemistry of Personality: Serotonin (and Prozac)The Biochemistry of Personality: NeurotransmittersSlide 20The Biochemistry of Personality: HormonesThe Biochemistry of Personality: HormonesThe Biochemistry of Personality: HormonesSlide 24Intro Behavioral GeneticsUsing Genetically Informed Designs to Study PersonalityBasics of Behavior GeneticsSlide 28© 2013 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.The Personality PuzzleSixth Editionby David C. Funder Psychology of PersonalityLecture 14: 3/9/16Anatomy and Physiology of Personality (con’t)Intro to Behavioral GeneticsStephanie Federspiel, Ph.D.1Objectives•Discuss approaches linking individual differences with variability in brain and neurotransmitter systems.•Overview of behavioral genetics approach to individual differences emphasizing the major contribution of the approach and its important limitations.The Anatomy of Personality: Study of Brain Systems•Brain systems (circuits, networks) implement feeling, thought, behavior.•Nearly all biological systems show variability in structure and/or function.–Structural/anatomic differences (cells, connections)–Genetic polymorphisms related to NT levels and capacity for binding. •Biological variations probably contribute to overt variation (behavior, thought, feeling) in response to environmental challenges.The Anatomy of Personality: Examples of Brain Systems•Understanding Social cognition:–X-system: AUTOMATIC, REFLEXIVE social thought(ventromedial PFC, amygdala, lat. Temporal ctx)– C-system: EFFORTFUL social thought (lat. PFC, hippocampus and med. temporal lobe, post. parietal cortex)•Understanding Persistence:– Frontal cortex and striatum must work together•Understanding Emotion Regulation–Frontal lobe helps down-regulate and up-regulate amygdala activity.The Anatomy of Personality: Examples of Brain Systems Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory:Rewards(BAS)Approach! Get it! (++ in E?) (+ dopamine response to reward -volume R frontal areas = + L activation?)The Anatomy of Personality: Examples of Brain Systems Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory:Potential Threats(BIS)Rewards(BAS)Imminent/Certain Threats(FFFS)Approach! Get it! (++ in E?) (+ dopamine response to reward -volume R frontal areas = + L activation?) Watch out! (++ in N?)Approach/avoidance conflict(- serotonin?) Be ready to inhibit/stop… Flee!! Get away!(Unrelated to E/N)We all have brain mechanisms for these tasks…BUT they vary in function/responsiveness for many reasons Balance of activity in L/R frontal lobe may matter…7HIGHEXTRAVERSIONBehaviorsGoals/Values related toPositive Emotion (Agentic and/or Affiliative)“Reward processing” differences can involve several levels of analysis (Smillie, 2013)LEARNING, MEMORY  > # salient social reinforcers, thoughts (due to successful experience?+ midbrain dopamine receptors, sensitivityWANTING, SEEKING!“Reward Processing”: 2 dimensions, not all one thing!1) WANT IT! SEEK IT! COMPETE FOR IT! FOCUS!-Timing: Pre-goal, motivating/energizing… Momentary increases in desire. -Biology: Midbrain dopamine (mesolimbic)-“High-jacked” in addiction  CRAVING! TRIGGERS!-Conceptual link: Agentic extraversion assertive, dominant, desirous, driven…2) LIKE IT! Savor it, enjoy it, feel good when you have it!-Timing: Post-goal, rewarding…  lasting ↑ pleasure, satisfaction. due to accumulated “rewards”-Biology: Forebrain opiod system-“down-regulated” in addiction  Less pleasure (despite more wanting!)-Conceptual link: Affiliative extraversion sociable, enthusiastic, cheerful, demonstrative, ks company, happy/content with life.“Reward Processing”: 2 dimensions, not all one thing!Can feeling too good be bad???•Positive emotions can by dysfunctional. 1) Is there a balance in types? 2) Is the emotion appropriate/functional for context?The Biochemistry of Personality•The biochemistry of the mind–Neurons communicate with neurotransmitters–Hormones stimulate or inhibit neural activity–About 60 chemicals transmit information in the brain and body–People differ in average levels •There are several potential reasons why!© 2016 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.© 2016 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.The Biochemistry of Personality: Neurotransmitters•Dopamine–Involved response to reward and approaching attractive objects and people (sociability, activity, novelty seeking)•This process is modulated by serotonin activity –Also implicated in aspect of cognition•Working memory, Focused attention to goals–Involve relatively distinct pathways in brain.14MesocorticalOpennessSchizophreniaMesolimbicExtraversionParkinson’s diseaseThe Biochemistry of Personality: Neurotransmitters•Dopamine–Related to the fundamental dimension of plasticity (Openness, Extraversion) –activates the behavioral activation system (BAS)–Possible additional relation with bipolar disorder, and impulsive reward seeking behavior. –Midbrain dopamine depletion makes people feel unwell, apathetic  . Affects medication compliance!© 2016 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.16MesocorticalOpennessMesolimbicExtraversionThe Biochemistry of Personality: Neurotransmitters•Serotonin: Cognition, Mood, sleep + appetiteRelated to fundamental trait of Stability (C, A, N)--Helps regulate behavioral impulses (aggress, worry, etc.)-Link w/ aggression may depend on Dopamine!!!MANY behavioral and physiological processes. -Levels may relate to perceptions of resources/possibilitiesThe Biochemistry of Personality: Serotonin (and Prozac)•Prozac–A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor–Mechanism of antidepressant effects: controversial!!•– worry, + cheerfulness, + productivity•Changes in a nondepressed person (+ E, - N)•Makes negative emotions less severe but has less effect on positive emotions–Cautions: Short term: (- )Neg. emotion that may be important.Long term: ??? Health risks, altered NT levels?The Biochemistry of Personality: Neurotransmitters•Serotonin + Dopamine systems are massively