Temperament: an event-related potential study using the oddball paradigm

The present study examined the structure of interrelations between brain event-related potentials and behavioral measures and temperament dimensions during an attention task. Three temperament questionnaires were used: Eysenck Personality Inventory, Strelau Temperament Inventory, and Rusalov Structure of Temperament Questionnaire. Event-related potentials were recorded using the active auditory oddball paradigm. The stimuli (85 dB; 1050 and 1000 Hz sinusoidal tones as targets and non-targets, respectively) were easily discriminated by all of the participants. A complex framework of interrelations between temperament and personality dimensions, behavioral measures, and event-related potentials was found. P3 amplitude was negatively correlated with the number of response omissions. Emotionality was positively correlated with P2 and N1-P2 complex amplitudes. Extraversion and Mobility of Nervous Processes were negatively correlated with the amplitude of the N1-P2 complex, and Social Ergonicity was negatively correlated with N2 latency. The results indicate that Extraversion tends to be associated with both the intensity and temporal aspects of temperament and suggest the importance of using a multidimensional approach in temperament studies.