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Objectives: Five affective temperaments are regarded as potential precursors of bipolar disorder. These are depressive, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable, and anxious temperaments. However, the neural substrates underlying these temperaments have not been identified. The aim of this study was to determine whether these temperaments are associated with specific neural substrates related to the brain white matter integrity in healthy participants., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional neuroimaging study of 71 healthy participants (38 males and 33 females) with affective temperaments. All participants screened for past and present psychiatric disorders. The scores of the five affective temperaments were measured by the temperament scale of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-autoquestionnaire. We analyzed the association between the fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of the brain white matter and these affective temperaments using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS)., Results: The cyclothymic temperament score had a significant positive association with the FA and a significant negative association with the MD in the white matter in the right frontal part of brain. The hyperthymic temperament score was negatively associated with the MD in a wide area of the brain white matter. The anxious temperament score was positively associated with the FA in the bilateral frontal, temporal, and parietal regions of the brain white matter. The depressive and irritable temperament scores were not associated with either the FA or the MD., Conclusion: The present findings suggest that cyclothymic, hyperthymic, and anxious temperaments are associated with brain white matter integrity in healthy participants., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: In order to resolve the equivocal relationship between anxious temperament rated by the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) and harm avoidance rated by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), the present study aimed to investigate whether the anxious temperament scale and the harm avoidance scale are significantly associated with adjustment of relevant factors. Our hypothesis was that anxious temperament might be associated with harm avoidance., Methods: From the database of our previous studies, the data of 111 healthy subjects who had both TCI and TEMPS-A scores were extracted for the present study. Two multiple regression analyses were performed: one to predict variance in anxious temperament scores without and with harm avoidance scores, and relevant factors; and another to predict variance in harm avoidance scores without and with anxious temperament scores, and relevant factors., Results: Anxious temperament was significantly and positively associated with depressive temperament, irritable temperament, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression whereas harm avoidance was significantly and negatively associated with hyperthymic temperament, novelty seeking, persistence, and self-directedness, although both were significantly and positively associated with each other., Conclusion: These findings support our hypothesis and suggest that anxious temperament may have 'depressive proneness' whereas harm avoidance may have 'passive proneness.', (© 2017 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences © 2017 Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.)

Cyclothymic temperament possesses a central dimension that includes rapid fluctuations in mood and emotional instability, and it is regarded as a prodromal state of bipolar disorder. The aim of the present study is to explore the neural correlates of cyclothymic temperament. We used the data of 55 healthy participants in our previous study and analyzed the association between cyclothymic temperament scores rated by the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) and the uptake of [ 18 F]-FDG measured by positron emission tomography (PET). A whole brain analysis revealed a cluster of [ 18 F]-FDG uptake significantly and positively associated with cyclothymic temperament scores, located in the right superior parietal lobule (SPL). Even after adjustment for relevant factors, there remained a significant cluster of [ 18 F]-FDG uptake with cyclothymic temperament scores in the right SPL. In ROI analyses, there were similar significant peaks in the right SPL in association with cyclothymic temperament scores. These findings suggest that the right superior parietal lobule may be one of the neural correlates of cyclothymic temperament., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Previously, we compared the hyperthymic scores of residents in Sapporo, Koshigaya, and Oita (which are located at latitudes of 43°N, 36°N, and 33°N in Japan, respectively) using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire version (TEMPS-A). We found that residents who lived at lower latitudes had higher hyperthymic temperament scores; however, the mechanism of the effect of latitude on hyperthymic temperament remained unclear. The current study examined the mediators of the latitude effect in additional regions with different annual temperatures and amounts of ambient sunshine., Methods: The Japanese archipelago stretches over 4000 km from north to south and has four large islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. In addition to the TEMPS-A previously reported data collected at Sapporo (latitude 43°N), Koshigaya (36°N), and Oita (33°N), we collected the TEMPS-A data of 189 and 106 residents from Takaoka (36°N) and Obihiro (42°N), respectively. Taken together, these five regions have different patterns (i.e., highs and lows) of annual ambient total sunshine (hours) and mean temperature (°C). The effect of latitude, sunshine, and temperature on affective temperaments was analyzed for five Japanese regions., Results: Multiple regression analyses revealed that latitude predicted significant variance in hyperthymic temperament. Ambient temperature, but not sunshine, significantly affected hyperthymic temperament., Limitations: The light exposure that residents actually received was not measured. The number of regions studied was limited. The findings might not generalize to residents across Japan or other countries., Conclusions: The present findings suggest that latitude affects hyperthymic temperament, and ambient temperature might mediate this effect., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: In a previous study examining the association of hyperthymic temperament and daily light exposure (illuminance), we compared hyperthymic scores of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire version (TEMPS-A) acquired from residents in Sapporo and Oita in Japan, which are located at 43° and 33° of latitude. We found that residents of Oita had significantly higher hyperthymic scores than residents of Sapporo. Moreover, a comparison of 3 regions rather than 2 regions may show a dose-response relationship in hyperthymic temperament and illuminance., Methods: Japan has 4 large islands-Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Sapporo is in Hokkaido and Oita is in Kyushu. As the 3rd location, we recently collected TEMPS-A data from 125 residents in Koshigaya which is located in Honshu at 36°. We combined the data of the Koshigaya residents with the data of 94 residents from Sapporo and 95 from Oita., Results: The mean yearly total sunshine of the past 20 years (1993-2012) was 1684.6h in Sapporo, 1862.9h in Koshigaya, and 2002.9h in Oita. Multiple regression analyses revealed that sunshine predicted significant variance of hyperthymic temperament in a dose-dependent manner., Limitations: The limitation of the present study is the lack of the consideration of the effects of temperature on hyperthymic temperament. Since correlations are fairly small, other factors are also at work for hyperthymic temperament., Conclusions: The present findings suggest that higher illuminance may maintain hyperthymic temperament via light effects in a dose-dependent manner., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire (TEMPS-A) was designed to identify temperaments which derive from traits but not states, there is a possibility that TEMPS-A scores might be affected by mental state in non-clinical populations. For the purpose of clarifying the effects of mental state on TEMPS-A scores, it is worthwhile to examine associations of the full version of the TEMPS-A with various depressive scales and, if possible, mania rating scales., Methods: TEMPS-A data acquired from 314 medical students and staff was used to investigate the association of temperament scores with mental assessment scores such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report Japanese version (QIDS-SR-J), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Hamilton Depression rating scale (HAM-D) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)., Results: Depressive state scores were significantly and positively associated with depressive, anxious, cyclothymic, and irritable temperament scores of TEMPS-A whereas sub-threshold hypomanic state scores were significantly and positively associated with irritable temperament of TEMPS-A. There was no association between depressive state or sub-threshold hypomanic state and hyperthymic temperament scores., Limitations: The nature of the present study is cross-sectional, and it is unknown whether depressive and/or sub-threshold hypomanic states may have affected temperament scores or whether temperament scores might have affected depressive and/or sub-threshold hypomanic scores. Other limitations are that the sample may not represent the entire population and that there is no evidence that Japanese findings can be applicable outside Japan., Conclusions: It is worthwhile to consider the effects of mental state on temperament scores of TEMPS-A even in non-clinical population., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Affective temperaments such as cyclothymic and hyperthymic temperaments have been regarded as potential antecedents of bipolar disorder but the neural substrates underlying these temperaments have not been identified. The aim of this study is to determine whether these temperaments are associated with specific neural substrates in regional brain morphology in healthy subjects., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional neuroimaging study of 60 healthy subjects (30 males and 30 females) with affective temperaments. All participants underwent the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to screen for the past and present psychiatric disorder. The scores of cyclothymic and hyperthymic temperaments were measured by the Temperament Scale of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire. We analyzed the association between voxel-based morphometry of the brain and these affective temperaments., Results: Subjects classified as having high cyclothymic scores had a significantly larger gray matter volume of the left medial frontal gyrus (MFG) than low cyclothymic subjects. High hyperthymic males also had significantly larger gray matter volume of the left MFG than low hyperthymic males, but there was no difference in females. Subjects with both high cyclothymic and high hyperthymic temperaments demonstrated significantly larger gray matter volume of the left MFG than their counterparts. Region of interest analysis revealed that peaks of these clusters showed a significant positive correlation of the regional volume with temperament scores., Limitations: The subjects were relatively young and the number was relatively small. Due to the nature of a cross-sectional research design, we could not determine the causal relationship between temperament and the volume changes., Conclusions: These findings suggest that cyclothymic and hyperthymic temperaments in healthy subjects may have their morphological basis in the left MFG., (© 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: It is well-known that Type A behavior pattern is characterized by hard-driving, competitive behavior and time urgency. Also, people with hyperthymic temperament are known to have high energy levels and are full of plans. It is therefore hypothesized that hyperthymic temperament is associated with rapid processing and fast reaction time in making decisions., Methods: Using data from our previous experimental studies (N=58) examining brightness judgment and brightness preference, reaction time (RT) was investigated in relation to hyperthymic temperament scores and fMRI signal changes of the left inferior orbitofrontal cortex during brightness judgment., Results: RT for brightness judgment was significantly shorter than RT for brightness preference. Significant associations were found between RT for brightness preference and hyperthymic temperament scores, and RT for brightness preference and fMRI signal changes of the left inferior orbitofrontal cortex whilst performing brightness preference task. Multiple regression analysis revealed that RT for brightness preference task was significantly and negatively associated with hyperthymic temperament scores, and significantly and positively associated with fMRI signal changes of the left inferior orbitofrontal cortex., Limitations: It is uncertain whether the findings of RT (around 1s) can be extrapolated to routine life (around 24h) and whether RT for brightness preference can be generalized to a variety of daily activities., Conclusions: The present findings suggest that hyperthymic temperament is associated with rapid processing. Further studies are required to overcome the above limitations., (© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hyperthymic temperament has been generally accepted as one of premorbid temperament of bipolar disorders. Although several studies indicate that subjects with hyperthymic temperament receive more illuminance, our recent study suggests that the threshold of brightness and darkness judgment is not different between more and less hyperthymic subjects, and that hyperthymic temperament may be associated with left inferior orbitofrontal cortex, which has been reported to be associated with bipolar disorder. Therefore, at the next stage, it can be hypothesized that hyperthymic subjects may prefer brightness (i.e., heliotropism) and thereby seek illuminance, and that percent signal changes of left inferior orbitofrontal cortex during the preference task may be associated with hyperthymic temperament scores., Methods: We compared brightness preference and un-preference between more and less hyperthymic subjects, and investigated percent signal changes of left inferior orbitofrontal cortex during brightness preference judgment, brightness un-preference judgment, and control task by using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)., Results: There were significant differences in brightness preference judgment and un-preference judgment, showing that more hyperthymic subjects preferred brighter illuminace levels and un-preferred darker illuminance levels than less hyperthymic subjects. Moreover, fMRI signal changes of left inferior orbitofrontal cortex was significantly and negatively associated with hyperthymic temperament scores., Limitations: It is unknown why left but not right inferior orbitofrontal cortex was associated with hyperthymic temperament scores., Conclusions: The present findings suggest that more hyperthymic subjects may prefer brightness and un-prefer darkness than less hyperthymic subjects (i.e., heliotropism), and reconfirm that hyperthymic temperament may be associated with left inferior orbitofrontal cortex, which have been reported to be associated with bipolar disorders., (© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hyperthymic temperament has been generally accepted as one of premorbid temperament of bipolar disorders. Since recent several studies indicate an association between illuminance and hyperthymic temperament, it can be hypothesized that more hyperthymic temperament subjects have a different threshold of brightness or darkness perception in comparison with less hyperthymic temperament subjects., Methods: We compared the threshold of brightness and darkness judgment between more and less hyperthymic subjects, and by simultaneously using fMRI we compared activations of whole brain between these subjects by two sample t-test. Furthermore, the association between the activations and hyperthymic temperament scores was analyzed., Results: Although there was no significant difference in the threshold of brightness or darkness judgment between more and less hyperthymic subjects, there was a significant difference in activations of the regions including left superior temporal gyrus, left inferior orbitofrontal cortex, left triangular inferior frontal gyrus and left insula between these subjects. Moreover, there was a significantly positive association between a cluster containing left inferior orbitofrontal cortex and hyperthymic temperament scores. The common activated region of these two analyses (categorical and continuous ones) was determined as left inferior orbitofrontal cortex., Limitations: Limitation of the present study is a lack of brightness and darkness preference experiment between more and less hyperthymic subjects., Conclusions: The present findings suggest that the threshold of brightness and darkness judgment is not different between more and less hyperthymic subjects, and that hyperthymic temperament may be associated with left inferior orbitofrontal cortex, which has been reported to be associated with bipolar disorder., (© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Growing evidence points to an association of daily light exposure and both mood and mood disorders. In recent studies, we demonstrated that higher illuminance of daytime may be positively associated with hyperthymic temperament while lower illuminance of daytime may be positively associated with cyclothymic temperament. However, it is not possible to determine whether hyperthymic or cyclothymic temperament induces higher or lower illuminance via heliotropism or non-heliotropism or whether higher or lower illuminance induces hyperthymic or cyclothymic temperament via light effects., Methods: In order to elucidate these questions, we sought to compare bipolar temperaments between residents who live in regions with varying levels of sunshine. Japan has 4 large islands -Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Sapporo in Hokkaido and Oita in Kyushu located at 43° and 33° of latitude differ significantly in mean yearly sunshine. We investigated the data of 189 subjects (94 from Sapporo and 95 from Oita) including their data of Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire version (TEMPS-A)., Results: Multiple regression analyses revealed that latitude (Sapporo or Oita) effect predicted significant variance of hyperthymic temperament, but not of the other temperaments., Limitations: The limitation of the present study was that there was a small but significant difference in age between the subjects of Sapporo and those of Oita. Therefore, we included age in the multiple regression analysis. Second, there were several climate factors other than sunshine which were significantly different between Sapporo and Oita. We cannot exclude these effects completely. Finally, we did not consider other factors such as psychosocial factors which might have affected bipolar temperaments., Conclusions: The present findings suggest that relatively lower latitude (potentially via more sunshine) may induce hyperthymic temperament., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: We aimed to investigate the hypotheses that hyperthymic temperament may be positively associated with self‐directedness and self‐transcendence with adjustment for relevant factors. Methods: Using the database of our previous studies, the data from 111 healthy subjects with scores for both the Temperament and Character Inventory and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire were secondarily used for the present study. Results: Hyperthymic Temperament scores were significantly and positively associated with Self‐Transcendence scores, but not with Self‐Directedness scores, following adjustment for relevant factors. Despite the lack of association between self‐transcendence and self‐directedness, cooperativeness was significantly and positively associated with self‐transcendence and self‐directedness, but not with hyperthymic temperament. Moreover, despite the lack of association between hyperthymic temperament and self‐directedness, harm avoidance was significantly and negatively associated with hyperthymic temperament and self‐directedness, but not with self‐transcendence. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that hyperthymic temperament may be positively associated with self‐transcendence, but not with self‐directedness. Moreover, hyperthymic temperament may be, a selfish and reckless trait, self‐transcendence may be altruistic and not reckless, and self‐directedness may be altruistic but reckless. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recently, we reported a significantly negative association of cyclothymic temperament scores with activations of the left lingual gyrus during esthetic judgments of paintings, suggesting that cyclothymic temperament may be associated with the left lingual gyrus. In view of potential associations of cyclothymic temperament, bipolar disorder and dementia, this study examined the relationship of temperament to lingual gyrus activity using a working memory task as a new context. Methods N -back tasks (0-, 1-, 2- and 3-back tasks) were performed on 34 healthy subjects using functional MRI. Multiple regression analyses were applied to measure the association between cyclothymic temperament scores and each of 4 beta images corresponding to 0-, 1-, 2- and 3-back tasks with gender, age and the other temperament scores (depressive, hyperthymic, irritable and anxious) as covariates. Results The whole brain analysis corrected for multiple comparisons revealed a significant activation of the left lingual gyrus associated with cyclothymic temperament scores in a new context—working memory for both 2- and 3-back tasks. Limitations The number of subjects was relatively small. The subjects were almost medical staff or students and the results should be interpreted with caution. Conclusions The present findings reconfirm that cyclothymic temperament may be associated with the left lingual gyrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is a well-known association between artistic creativity and cyclothymic temperament but the neural correlates of cyclothymic temperament have not yet been fully identified. Recently, we showed that the left lingual gyrus and bilateral cuneus may be associated with esthetic judgment of representational paintings, we therefore sought to investigate brain activity during esthetic judgment of paintings in relation to measures of cyclothymic temperament. Methods Regions of interest (ROI) were set at the left lingual gyrus and bilateral cuneus using automated anatomical labeling, and percent signal changes of the ROIs were measured by marsbar toolbox. The associations between percent signal changes of the ROIs during esthetic judgments of paintings and cyclothymic temperament scores were investigated by Pearson׳s coefficient. Moreover, the associations were further analyzed using multiple regression analysis whereby cyclothymic temperament scores were a dependent factor and percent signal changes of the 3 ROIs and the other 4 temperament scores were independent factors. Results There was a significantly negative association of cyclothymic temperament scores with the percent signal changes of the left lingual gyrus during esthetic judgments of paintings, but not with those of bilateral cuneus. Even after adjustment using multiple regression analysis, this finding remained unchanged. Limitations The number of subjects was relatively small and the task was limited to appreciation of paintings. Conclusions The present findings suggest that cyclothymic temperament may be associated with the left lingual gyrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]