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Previous studies have shown inconsistent results regarding the effect of the Val158Met polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene on personality and cognition. Here, nonclinical Caucasian university students of Italian origin were administered the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised, Tellegen Absorption Scale, Differential Attentional Processes Inventory, and Waterloo-Stanford Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility. We found that the COMT Val158Met polymorphism was significantly associated with the disorderliness facet of novelty seeking (NS4) and that sex was a moderator of this association. Females with the Met/Met genotype showed higher NS4 scores compared to those with the Val/Met and Val/Val genotypes. No significant genotype effect was found for males. Additionally, we failed to find a significant effect of the COMT gene on attention and hypnotic suggestibility measures. These results provide further evidence for a sex-specific influence on the gene-behaviour associations.

This study aimed to validate a recent conceptualization proposed by Coll and colleagues (2017a) that defines empathic response as a situational, cognitively complex process requiring emotion identification and affective sharing. Sixty right-handed women university students (18-29 years) voluntarily participated in the study. We measured ratings for empathy pain to assess the individual differences in empathy. At the same time, we collected peak amplitudes of the event-related potentials (ERPs) components to empathic stimulations of painful faces or hand stimuli and neutral images. Electrophysiological results proved that the P2, N170, N2, and P3 ERP components were associated with the modulation of empathic responses. Participants with low empathic responses (p 0.05) disclosed a larger frontal central N2 for the painful hands than for painful faces (p .05) and a reduced temporoparietal N170 for painful hands compared to neutral ones. Furthermore, our results highlighted higher frontal central P3a and P3b to painful stimuli than controls (p ≤ 0.01). We explained these findings assuming that in identifying the emotional value of a stimulus, the emotional content can modulate the reorientation of attention and the in-memory updating process associated with the empathic response. Results are in line with Coll and colleagues' conceptualization of the empathic response that includes two cognitive processes, the identification of emotions, and affective sharing, related to the recognition of the emotional state of the other in the self.

We induced placebo analgesia (PA), a phenomenon explicitly attenuating the self-pain feeling, to assess whether this resulted in reduced empathy pain when witnessing a confederate undergoing such pain experience. We recorded EEG and electrocardiogram during a painful control and PA treatment in healthy adults who rated their experienced pain and empathy for pain. We derived HRV changes and, using wavelet analysis of non-phase-locked event-related EEG oscillations, EEG spectral power differences for self-pain and other-pain conditions. First-hand PA produced a reduction of self-pain and self-unpleasantness, whereas we observed only a slight decrease of other unpleasantness. We derived linear combinations of HRV and EEG band power changes significantly associated with self-pain and empathy for pain changes using PCAs. We found that relative HR-slowing together with decreased midline ϑ-band (4-8 Hz) power directly influenced self-pain reduction and, indirectly, through chained mediating effects of the Behavioral Inhibition System and Fight-Flight-Freezing System traits. In the other-pain condition, we detected a direct influence of the midline β2-band (22-30 Hz) power reduction on the other-pain decline with a positive mediating role of Total Empathic Ability. These findings suggest that PA modulation of first-hand versus other pain relies on functionally different physiological processes involving different personality traits.

Hypnotic susceptibility is a major factor influencing the study of the neural correlates of hypnosis using EEG. In this context, while its effects on the response to hypnotic suggestions are undisputed, less attention has been paid to “neutral hypnosis” (i.e., the hypnotic condition in absence of suggestions). Furthermore, although an influence of opened and closed eye condition onto hypnotizability has been reported, a systematic investigation is still missing. Here, we analyzed EEG signals from 34 healthy subjects with low (LS), medium (MS), and (HS) hypnotic susceptibility using power spectral measures (i.e., TPSD, PSD) and Lempel-Ziv-Complexity (i.e., LZC, fLZC). Indeed, LZC was found to be more suitable than other complexity measures for EEG analysis, while it has been never used in the study of hypnosis. Accordingly, for each measure, we investigated within-group differences between rest and neutral hypnosis, and between opened-eye/closed-eye conditions under both rest and neutral hypnosis. Then, we evaluated between-group differences for each experimental condition. We observed that, while power estimates did not reveal notable differences between groups, LZC and fLZC were able to distinguish between HS, MS, and LS. In particular, we found a left frontal difference between HS and LS during closed-eye rest. Moreover, we observed a symmetric pattern distinguishing HS and LS during closed-eye hypnosis. Our results suggest that LZC is better capable of discriminating subjects with different hypnotic susceptibility, as compared to standard power analysis.

We tested the role of hypnotic suggestibility, involuntariness, pain expectation, and subjective hypnotic depth in the prediction of placebo analgesia (PA) responsiveness. We also tested the link of lower and upper alpha sub-band (i.e., 'alpha1' and 'alpha2') power changes with tonic PA responding during waking and hypnosis conditions. Following an initial PA manipulation condition, we recorded EEG activity during waking and hypnosis under two treatments: (1) painful stimulation (Pain); (2) painful stimulation after application of a PA cream. Alpha1 and alpha2 power were derived using the individual alpha frequency method. We found that (1) PA in both waking and hypnosis conditions significantly reduced relative pain perception; (2) during waking, all the above mentioned contextual measures were associated with pain reduction, while involuntariness alone was associated with pain reduction within hypnosis. Enhanced alpha2 power at the left-parietal lead was solely associated with pain reduction in waking, but not in hypnosis condition. Using multiple regression and mediation analyses we found that: (i) during waking, the enhancement of relative left-parietal alpha2 power, directly influenced the enhancement in pain reduction, and, indirectly, through the mediating positive effect of involuntariness; (j) during hypnosis, the enhancement of left-temporoparietal alpha2 power, through the mediation of involuntariness, influenced pain reduction. Current findings obtained during waking suggest that enhanced alpha2 power may serve as a direct-objective measure of the subjective reduction of tonic pain in response to PA treatment. Overall, our findings suggest that placebo analgesia during waking and hypnosis involves different processes of top-down regulation.

The aim of our study was to examine the typical personality profiles of the Alternative Five Factor Model with its new factor-facet version questionnaire (Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire, 2010) on a large, cross-country database. The total sample of this study included 15,529 participants from 23 sub-samples from 22 countries and with 16 different languages. The sample consisted of university students and staff members. We applied model-based clustering both separately on each sample and on the total sample. Agreement between country-specific and total sample clustering was similar for the three-, four- and five-cluster solutions with Cohen's kappa coefficients ranging from 0.59 to 0.60. The optimal cluster number based on BIC values increased with sample size, but the most common one was five with the following typical profiles: overcontrolled, resilient, undercontrolled, reserved, and ordinary. This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant no PSI2008-00924/PSIC ) and was performed within the framework of DURSI Consolidated Group 2009 SGR 809. Scopus

There is considerable evidence showing that people slow down after making an error. The post-error slowing is typically interpreted as the result of adaptation processes raising response criteria in order to avoid future errors. Here we analyze performance results of a previous study examining the relation between intelligence and electrocortical concomitants of mental rotation. Participants performed a hybrid Choice/Go-NoGo task presenting stimuli upright or rotated (60, 120, or 180 degrees) in normal or mirror image. The results showed that low-ability participants responded slower overall and committed more errors—in particular on NoGo trials with 180 degrees rotated stimuli. We selected the error trials and 7 correct Go trials preceding the error trial and 3 correct Go trials following the error trial. The results showed considerable post-error slowing and revealed that this slowing was related to intelligence—low-ability participants showed greater slowing than high-ability participants. This finding was interpreted within the context of diffusion-modeling studies of post-error slowing and may suggest that the rate of evidence accumulation and, possibly, the setting of response thresholds on trials following an error is more vulnerable in low- relative to high-ability individuals.

Previously published models of frontal activity linked high relative left frontal activity to the behavioral approach system (BAS) and impulsivity. Additionally, these models did not account for BAS facets encompassing the anticipation of reward, i.e., goal-driven persistence (BAS&ndash, GDP) and reward interest (BAS&ndash, RI), from those that deal with the actual hedonic experience of reward, i.e., reward reactivity (BAS&ndash, RR) and impulsivity (BAS&ndash, I). Using resting electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, the source localization (LORETA) method allowed us to calculate the hemispheric asymmetry of the current density within the alpha band (7.5&ndash, 13 Hz) in ten regions of interest. Compared to low BAS subtrait scorers, high BAS subtrait scorers (except for BAS&ndash, I) were correlated with greater relative left-sided activity in the superior frontal gyrus (BA10). Further, an isolated effective coherence (iCOH) analysis of the beta activity (21 Hz) disclosed that high impulsive scorers as compared to low impulsive ones had higher connectivity between the superior frontal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus, which was not compensated for by enhanced inhibitory alpha (11 Hz) connectivity between these regions. For the beta frequency, we also found in highly impulsive individuals that (i) both left and right middle temporal lobes directly influenced the activity of the left and right superior frontal lobes, and (ii) a clear decoupling between left and right superior frontal lobes. These findings could indicate reduced control by the supervisory system in more impulsive individuals.

3M syndrome is a rare disorder that involves the gene CUL7. CUL7 modulates odour detection, conditions the olfactory response (OR) and plays a role in olfactory system development. Despite this involvement, there are no direct studies on olfactory functional effects in 3M syndrome. The purpose of the present work was to analyse the cortical OR, through chemosensory event-related potentials (CSERP) and power spectra calculated by electroencephalogram (EEG) signals recorded in 3M infants: two twins (3M-N) and an additional subject (3M-O). The results suggest that olfactory processing is diversified. Comparison of N1 and LPC components indicated substantial differences in 3M syndrome that may be a consequence of a modified olfactory processing pattern. Moreover, the presence of delta rhythms in 3M-O and 3M-N clearly indicates their involvement with OR, since the delta rhythm is closely connected to chemosensory perception, in particular to olfactory perception.

3M syndrome is a rare disorder that involves the gene cullin-7 (CUL7). CUL7 modulates odour detection, conditions the olfactory response (OR) and plays a role in the development of the olfactory system. Despite this involvement, there are no direct studies on olfactory functional effects in 3M syndrome. The purpose of the present work was to analyse the cortical OR through chemosensory event-related potentials (CSERPs) and power spectra calculated by electroencephalogram (EEG) signals recorded in 3M infants: two twins (3M-N) and an additional subject (3M-O). The results suggest that olfactory processing is diversified. Comparison of N1 and Late Positive Component (LPC) indicated substantial differences in 3M syndrome that may be a consequence of a modified olfactory processing pattern. Moreover, the presence of delta rhythms in 3M-O and 3M-N clearly indicates their involvement with OR, since the delta rhythm is closely connected to chemosensory perception, in particular to olfactory perception.

Although hypnotizability exhibits high across-time and across-test consistencies, it is not clear (a) how different preambles to a hypnotic procedure (metasuggestions) influence responsiveness to suggestions and the strength of the association between two hypnotizability scales and (b) how hypnotizability relates to absorption and empathy. In Experiment 1, nonclinical participants (

Background: High blood pressure has been associated with an increased risk of developing cognitive impairment. However, this relationship is unclear. This study aims to systematically review the effects of blood pressure on executive functioning, language, memory, attention and processing speed. Methods: The review process was conducted according to the PRISMA-Statement, using the PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and MEDLINE databases. Restrictions were made by selecting studies, which included one or more cognitive measures and reported blood pressure recordings. Studies that included participants with medical conditions or people diagnosed with dementia, psychiatric disorders, stroke and head trauma were excluded. The review allows selecting fifty studies that included 107,405 participants. The results were reported considering different cognitive domains separately: global cognitive functioning, attention, processing speed, executive functions, memory and visuospatial abilities. Results: Higher blood pressure appears to influence cognitive performance in different domains in the absence of dementia and severe cardiovascular diseases, such as strokes. This relationship seems to be independent of demographic factors (gender and education), medical co-morbidity (diabetes), and psychiatric disorders (depression). Furthermore, it presents different patterns considering ageing. In the elderly, a sort of &ldquo, cardiovascular paradox&rdquo, is highlighted, which allows considering higher blood pressure as a protective factor for cognitive functioning. Conclusions: The results underline that higher blood pressure is associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline in people without dementia or stroke. These findings highlight the need to introduce early management of blood pressure, even in the absence of clinical hypertension, to prevent the risk of a decline of cognitive functioning typically associated with ageing.

Hypnotizability is a dispositional trait reflecting the individual ability to modify perception, memory and behavior according to imaginative suggestions. It is measured by validated scales that classify the general population in high (highs), medium (mediums) and low (lows) hypnotizable persons, predicts the individual proneness to respond to suggestions, and is particularly popular in the field of the cognitive control of pain and anxiety. Different hypnotizability levels, however, have been associated with specific brain morpho-functional characteristics and with peculiarities in the cognitive, sensorimotor and cardiovascular domains also in the ordinary state of consciousness and in the absence of specific suggestions. The present scoping review was undertaken to summarize the asymmetries observed in the phenomenology and physiological correlates of hypnosis and hypnotizability as possible indices of related hemispheric prevalence. It presents the findings of 137 papers published between 1974 and 2019. In summary, in the ordinary state of consciousness, behavioral, neurophysiological and neuroimaging investigations have revealed hypnotizability related asymmetries mainly consisting of pre-eminent left hemisphere information processing/activation in highs, and no asymmetries or opposite directions of them in lows. The described asymmetries are discussed in relation to the current theories of hypnotizability and hypnosis.

Background and Objective: Heart rate variability (HRV) as an index of the autonomic nervous system appears to be related to reactivity to experimental pain stimuli. HRV could better explain the contributions of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity response to nociceptive stimulation. The aim of this study was to systematically review and synthesize the current evidence on HRV in relation to the experience of pain in experimental tasks. Databases and Data Treatment: Studies indexed in the PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, WebOfScience, and Scopus databases were reviewed for eligibility. Studies on the autonomic response (i.e., HRV) to experimentally induced pain in healthy adults were included. Different methods of pain induction were considered (e.g., thermal, pressure, and electrical). Data were synthesized considering the association between HRV and both pain induction and subjective measures of pain. Results: Seventy-one studies were included. The results underline significant change in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous systems during the painful stimulation independent of the pain induction method. The autonomic reaction to pain could be affected by several factors, such as sex, age, body mass index, breathing patterns, the intensity of the stimulation, and the affective state. Moreover, an association between the autonomic nervous system and the subjective experience of pain was found. Higher parasympathetic activity was associated with better self-regulation capacities and, accordingly, a higher pain inhibition capacity. Conclusions: HRV appears to be a helpful marker to evaluate nociceptive response in experimentally induced pain. Future studies are also needed in clinical samples to understand better the interindividual changes of autonomic response due to pain stimuli.

The revised reinforcement sensitivity theory (rRST) of personality has conceptualized three main systems: the behavioural approach system (BAS), behavioural inhibition system (BIS), and fight-flight-freeze system (FFFS). Research links greater relative left-frontal activity with BAS-related tendencies and impulsivity and greater relative right-frontal activity with “withdrawal” motivation that included both BIS and FFFS. Although rRST has addressed the separation of FFFS and BIS, much of personality neuroscience research does not indicate which system is related to right frontal activity. We administered the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ) to measure the BAS and its facets (goal-drive persistence, reward interest, reward reactivity, and impulsivity), BIS, and the withdrawal FFFS. We examined the association of RST-PQ traits with resting electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha-asymmetry in female participants (N = 162) by considering the influence of experimenter’s gender. In the total group, that included two subgroups with experimenters of different gender, BAS-impulsivity was related to greater left- than right-frontal activity, and FFFS, but not BIS, was related to greater relative right-frontocentral activity. These associations remained significant for the subgroup with a young same-sex experimenter, but not with opposite-sex experimenter.

Personality traits have been shown to interact with environmental cues to modulate biological responses including placebo effects. We assessed the behavioural approach system (T-BAS) and its facets (goal drive persistence, GDP; reward interest and reactivity, RI and RR; Impulsivity, Imp) using the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ; Corr & Cooper, 2016). Participants received three treatments: Baseline, Pain, and Placebo (pain plus a sham cream). Pain was produced by administering the cold-cup-test (CCT). We used exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) analysis of event-related potentials elicited by auditory-startle probes to identify regional sources of activity changes as predictors of T-BAS and its facets. We calculated pain minus placebo differences for pain and distress ratings and regional current density. We failed to find significant associations of RST-PQ traits with placebo-induced pain and distress reductions. However, multiple regression analyses and covariance analyses showed that, during placebo analgesia as compared to pain treatment, a lower activity in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) was associated with higher T-BAS, and RI, whereas lower activity in the ACC was associated with higher T-BAS, RR, and Imp. Findings suggest that placebo analgesia may represent a form of reward responding and likely offer paths of identifying BAS traits that are liable to modulate placebo analgesic responses.

We applied exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) method to auditory startle event-related potentials (ERPs) during cold pain (cold-cup-test: CCT). ERPs and startle data were obtained from a published dataset wherein auditory startle stimuli were used as probes of pain processing (De Pascalis & Scacchia, 2016). We wanted to identify (1) sources of cortical current density changes associated with pain/distress reductions to placebo analgesia (PA) treatment, and (2) sources of activity changes that are predictors of the behavioural inhibition system (BIS) and fight/flight/freeze system (FFFS) of the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (rRST). We administered three treatments: Baseline, CCT-alone (Pain), and CCT plus sham cream (Placebo). PA, as compared to Pain treatment, was effective in pain and distress reduction, and produced a significant current density reduction within right primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and left middle frontal gyrus (MFG). In addition, current density change in the right S1 was a positive predictor of subjective pain and distress reduction, although distress reduction was also associated with decreased activity in the left MFG. We failed to identify regional sources of placebo-related current density changes as predictors of the BIS and FFFS with the exception of current density changes within left MFG that was positively correlated with BIS and a significant predictor of this trait. Findings appear consistent with rRST predictions suggesting BIS and FFFS as separate, but interacting neurobehavioural systems.

This study examined the associations between Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST-PQ, Corr & Cooper, 2016) and psychopathy traits (LSRPS, Levenson et al., 1995) in university students. The aim was to identify psychopathy and RST traits associated with prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle and ERP responses by using two prepulse-stimulus intensities (70 and 85 dB) combined with a 105 dB startle pulse (200 ms prepulse-plus-pulse interval). The higher intensity prepulse produced a larger PPI, although both prepulse stimuli reliably activated the startle system. Higher Primary Psychopathy was associated with a higher Defensive-Fight trait and both measures were associated with larger PPI. A principal components factor analysis disclosed an N1-startle factor that was a significant predictor of both reward reactivity and Goal-Drive Persistence scores. Results appear in line with Newman’s response modulation hypothesis emphasizing the engagement of attention and recognition of stimulus salience, which may be disrupted in psychopathy.

Using electroencephalography (EEG) power measures within conventional delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands, the aims of the current study were to highlight cortical correlates of subjective perception of cold pain (CP) and the associations of these measures with behavioral inhibition system (BIS), fight-flight-freeze system (FFFS), and behavioral approach system personality traits. EEG was recorded in 55 healthy right-handed women under (i) a white noise interruption detection condition (Baseline); (ii) enduring CP induced by the cold cup test. CP and Baseline EEG band power scores within conventional frequency bands served for covariance analyses. We found that: (1) higher Pain scorers had higher EEG beta power changes at left frontal, midline central, posterior temporal leads; (2) higher BIS was associated with greater EEG delta activity changes at parietal scalp regions; (3) higher FFFS was associated with higher EEG delta activity changes at temporal and left-parietal regions, and with lower EEG gamma activity changes at right parietal regions. High FFFS, compared to Low FFFS scorers, also showed a lower gamma power across the midline, posterior temporal, and parietal regions. Results suggest a functional role of higher EEG beta activity in the subjective perception of tonic pain. EEG delta activity underpins conflict resolution system responsible for passive avoidance control of pain, while higher EEG delta and lower EEG gamma activity changes, taken together, underpin active avoidance system responsible for pain escape behavior.

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential damage to the body. The experience of acute pain reflects the continuous processing of a complex hierarchical system of motivations to act that incorporates expectations and beliefs serving to limit the impact of adverse events. Research on placebo analgesia highlights that placebo analgesia can be modulated by dispositional characteristics that interact with environmental and personality-state variables. Generally, acute pain relief, and particularly placebo analgesia, is conceptualized as a self-regulated homoeostatic process associated with the achievement of a reward that serves to interrupt the ongoing pain sensation. Motivational states that drive the behaviour of aversion to acute pain and the attainment of pain relief or placebo analgesia can be conceptualized in terms of behavioural inhibition, behavioural approach, and the fight-flight-freeze system. It is desirable to conduct more research on placebo analgesia to evaluate the role of individual approach/avoidance behaviour to allow the planning of individual treatments to reduce pain.

This study explored the electrocortical correlates of conscious and nonconscious perceptions of emotionally laden faces in neurotypical adult women with varying levels of autistic-like traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient&mdash, AQ). Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during the viewing of backward-masked images for happy, neutral, and sad faces presented either below (16 ms&mdash, subliminal) or above the level of visual conscious awareness (167 ms&mdash, supraliminal). Sad compared to happy faces elicited larger frontal-central N1, N2, and occipital P3 waves. We observed larger N1 amplitudes to sad faces than to happy and neutral faces in High-AQ (but not Low-AQ) scorers. Additionally, High-AQ scorers had a relatively larger P3 at the occipital region to sad faces. Regardless of the AQ score, subliminal perceived emotional faces elicited shorter N1, N2, and P3 latencies than supraliminal faces. Happy and sad faces had shorter N170 latency in the supraliminal than subliminal condition. High-AQ participants had a longer N1 latency over the occipital region than Low-AQ ones. In Low-AQ individuals (but not in High-AQ ones), emotional recognition with female faces produced a longer N170 latency than with male faces. N4 latency was shorter to female faces than male faces. These findings are discussed in view of their clinical implications and extension to autism.

Research has shown that the coupling between slow and fast EEG frequency oscillations reflects cortico-subcortical interaction. Specifically, the between-subject delta-beta amplitude-amplitude correlation is found to increase in some hypothetically anxiogenic conditions. We tested whether cortical-subcortical coupling would increase as a function of decreased delta (theta) or higher beta (gamma) activity. EEG recording was obtained from a group of 59 students during a resting anxiogenic situation (Anxiety) and from another group of 66 during a relaxation situation (Relaxation). Participants filled out the State Anxiety and the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Personality Questionnaire. Between-subjects cross-frequency correlations were calculated between power values in the delta (theta) and beta (gamma) frequency bands and compared between Anxiety and Relaxation groups. A significant positive between-subject delta-beta correlation was observed in the resting Anxiety, and this association was significantly higher than that observed in the Relaxation group. In the Anxiety, but not Relaxation group, we observed a delta-beta coupling for the low delta activity. In the Anxiety group, BIS trait was significantly associated with higher strength of within-subject delta-beta coupling, while in the Relaxation group BIS was positively associated with delta-theta coupling. Interesting, in both resting Anxiety and Relaxation groups, BAS-GDP was positively associated with higher delta-gamma coupling.

3M syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive dwarfism syndrome. The distinctive features of this syndrome are related to a limitation of prenatal growth, facial dysmorphism, the absence of microcephaly and absence of mental impairment. The subjects affected by this form of disorder often have respiratory problems and present different facial morphology (i.e., fleshy nose, antero-verse nostrils) [1]. The aim of this research was to investigate how the 3-M syndrome could have implications in the olfactory system. No study has so far been conducted on 3M to evaluate the use of olfactory event related potentials (OERP) as tools for investigating the functional response to chemical stimulation. Materials and Methods 3 male siblings, diagnosed as 3M syndrome, [2 newborns twins of 4 months old (3M-N) and a 3M 18 months old (3M-O)], were compared with two controls couple of twins (HS), matched by age and sex. The subjects performed an olfactory recognition task. The scent was administered through the device US2017127971 (A1) [2], with 20 μL of Eucalyptus. The paradigm of presentation corresponds to the stimulation of OERP. The analysis considered the olfactory components N1 and LPC [3], the wavelet and the connectivity values. Results The subject 3M-O shows, on N1, greater amplitudes (average amplitude 3M V -45 vs HS V -25) e delayed latencies (average latency 3M 440 ms. vs HS 200 ms) and on LPC greater amplitudes (3M-O V +17,5 vs HS V +5) and faster latencies (3M-O 260 ms vs HS 380 ms). The LPC data concern the response obtained in the right fronto-lateral area. Through the brain mapping it appears that the 3M-O subject shows a greater left lateralization. The 3M-N twins show, on both N1 and LPC, smaller amplitudes (N1: 3M-NV-17,5 vs HS V18,5; LPC: 3M-N V10 vs HS V 22,50) and delayed latencies (N1:3M-N 350 ms. vs HS 225 ms; LPC: 3M-N 220 ms vs HS 340 ms). Within the range between 70ms - 250ms, there is almost minimal activation of the parietal area in the case of 3M-N twins. In the range between 250ms to 420ms, 3M-N and 3M-O subjects showed an activation of part of the left hemisphere, of the parietal and of the left occipital area; while the HS showed an activation of parietal, left frontotemporal and right occipital areas. The wavelet analysis shows greater connectivity in alpha and delta in the case of the subject 3M-O and 3M-N vs HS. Conclusions In 3M syndrome, the olfactory processing seems to be clearly diversified (see Fig.1). In particular, the differences in the N1 and LPC components indicate substantial differences in 3M syndrome that can modify the pattern of olfactory processing. Moreover, the 3M subjects, in addition to greater connectivity, show different localizations of arousal due to olfactory stimulation, highlighting the implication of much larger areas ranging from the left hemisphere to the right hemisphere including occipital localizations.

The current study examined the relation between mental rotation and fluid intelligence using performance measures augmented with brain potential indices. Participants took a Raven's Progressive Matrices Test and performed on a mental rotation task presenting upright and rotated letter stimuli (60°, 120° or 180°) in normal and mirror image requiring a response execution or inhibition depending on instructions. The performance results showed that the linear slope relating performance accuracy, but not speed, to the angular rotation of the stimuli was related to individual differences in fluid intelligence. For upright stimuli, P3 amplitude recorded at frontal and central areas was positively associated with fluid intelligence scores. The mental rotation process was related to a negative shift of the brain potential recorded over the parietal cortex. The linear function relating the amplitude of the rotation-related negativity to rotation angle was associated with fluid intelligence. The slope was more pronounced for high- relative to low-ability participants suggesting that the former flexibly adjust their expenditure of mental effort to the mental rotation demands while the latter ones are less proficient in doing so.

In this study, we attempt to validate previous findings on extraversion-related differences in speed of sensorimotor processing and to extend them into Behavioural Approach System (BAS) subtraits within the framework of the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (rRST) of personality. Here, we assessed psychological traits of extraversion (E), four BAS facets (Goal-Drive Persistence, BAS-GDP; Reward Interest, BAS-RI; Reward Reactivity, BAS-RR; Impulsivity, BAS-I), Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS), and Fight-Flight-Freeze System (FFFS) in 51 volunteers (28 women). Stimulus-locked lateralized readiness potential (S-LRP), response-locked LRP (R-LRP), stimulus-locked and response-locked forearm electromyogram (S-EMG and R-EMG), and P3 components of the event-related potentials (ERPs), were recorded during the performance of a two-choice Go/NoGo visual letter-digit discrimination task varying in task difficulty. High extraverts, relative to introverts and individuals high relative to low on BAS-RI, were more likely to exhibit shorter S-LRP latencies and stimulus- and response-locked EMG latencies. Additionally, high BAS-I had a shorter R-RLP latency than low BAS-I participants for the difficult task. High FFFS levels were associated with longer S-LRP and S-EMG latencies, while high BIS levels had larger response accuracy. Extraverts, relative to introverts, along with those high relative to low on BAS-RR and BAS-I, exhibited smaller P3 amplitudes. The faster cortical premotor initiation, found in individuals high on extraversion, BAS-RI and low on FFFS, may account for their faster peripheral motor response initiation and execution. Smaller P3 amplitudes in extraverts and individuals high on BAS-RR and BAS-I may indicate reduced perceptual processing capacity in these individuals.

The present study investigates cortical structures associated with personality dimension of positivity (POS) by using a standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA), which provides EEG localization measures that are independent of the recording reference. Resting EEG and self-report measures of positivity, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and optimism were collected from 51 female undergraduates. EEG was recorded across 29 scalp sites. Anterior and posterior source alpha asymmetries of cortical activation were obtained by using sLORETA. Based on previous research findings, 10 frontal and 6 parietal regions of interest (ROI) were derived. Alpha asymmetry in the posterior cingulate (i.e., BA23 and BA31) was uniquely associated with both POS scores. These areas are, hypothetically, part of a complex default-mode neural network (DMN). The activity in the DMN usually increases during tasks that invoke self-referential processing, such as responding to statements describing one’s personality, attitudes, or preferences. Importantly, the cortical structures associated with POS were different from those associated with indicators. Indeed, measures of “optimism” failed to maintain a significant correlation with any of the previously significant ROI, but “self-esteem” and “life satisfaction” revealed robust associations with alpha asymmetry at the precuneus (i.e., BA7), after controlling for POS residual scores. In conclusion: Present findings support the assumption that POS is a basic disposition that reflects the concerted activity of brain structures that are essential for integrating self-referential thought and autobiographical memories and for assigning a positive valence to one’s experience and attitude toward the future.

Two studies were carried out to explore the relationship between circadian typology and the Alternative Five-Factor Model of personality. In the first study, 379 participants (232 females) were administered the reduced version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire. Evening types reported higher impulsive sensation-seeking scores than morning and intermediate types, whereas morning types scored higher than evening types on activity factor. In the second study, the association between morningness and activity personality factor was verified through the objective-actigraphic monitoring of the rest-activity cycle. Actigraphy allowed us to operationalise both circadian typology, through the computing of midpoint of sleep (early values, expressed in hours and minutes, correspond to an advanced phase of the sleep/wake cycle), and activity factor by the means of motor activity recording. Fifty-one individuals (30 females) wore an actigraph on the nondominant wrist continuously for 1 week. A negative correlation was observed between midpoint of sleep and mean diurnal motor activity, demonstrating that an early phase of the sleep/wake cycle (i.e. morningness preference) was related to higher diurnal motor activity. Assessed both subjectively and objectively, the results of both studies highlight a significant relationship between morningness and activity personality factor.

This article aims to present the construct of unitary consciousness as it emerged in the work of the Italian physiologist Luigi Luciani (1840-1919). We highlight how Luciani's work, conducted during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, integrated experimental research with the clinical observation of patients, enabling him to develop elaborate theoretical conceptions. From our historical analysis of Luciani's main works, an innovative model of unitary consciousness emerges with respect to his contemporary context. We also propose Luciani's model as a contribution to the modern debate on consciousness. An analysis of his work, not considered up to now, leads us to reevaluate the assumption of an ancient opposition between localization and antilocalization in the history of cerebral localization. (PsycINFO Database Record

In this article, we explore the neural correlates of the general and specific factors assessed by the Life Orientation Test–Revised. These factors have been shown to assess general optimism (GO) and a form of self-enhancement akin to unrealistic optimism (SP). Toward our aim, we used a standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA), which provides electroencephalographic (EEG) localization measures that are independent of recording reference. Resting-EEG and self-report measures of GO and SP were collected from 51 female undergraduates. EEGs were recorded across 29 scalp sites. Anterior and posterior source alpha asymmetries of cortical activation were obtained by using the sLORETA method. On the basis of previous research findings, ten frontal and six parietal regions of interest (ROIs) were derived. Alpha asymmetry in the posterior cingulate (i.e., BA31) was uniquely associated with GO. In contrast, SP was associated with areas of the inferior frontal gyrus (BA44, BA45) and with the left subcentralis area (BA43). Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are provided and discussed.

We investigated whether the late posterior negativity (LPN) is a component linked to stimulus retrieval or rather to complex, higher-order stimulus evaluation processes or response preparation processes. Participants performed three separate tasks across separate sessions: an encoding task, a memory recognition task, and a visual discrimination task. In the visual discrimination task, the difficulty of stimulus evaluation was manipulated via stimuli varying in complexity (easy vs. moderately difficult) and duration of stimulus presentation (short vs. long). Three indices of the LPN peak were examined: amplitude, latency, and width. The LPN was present in all three tasks, with maximum amplitudes at occipital sites. Results of the visual discrimination task showed that the LPN amplitude is modulated by task difficulty. No latency differences were observed between short and long presentations, suggesting that the LPN is not related to response preparation. Consequently, we compared the LPN associated with short presentations of easy and difficult stimuli with the LPN of the encoding and memory task. The LPN amplitude was more negative in the memory task compared to the other tasks. Latency and width of the LPN were modulated by stimulus complexity, with increased latency and width in the encoding and memory task relative to the visual discrimination task. Overall, these findings suggest that the LPN is not a component linked to stimulus retrieval and response preparation, but rather to complex, higher-order stimulus evaluation processes, which are modulated by task difficulty.