Changing the General Factor of Personality and the c-fos Gene Expression with Methylphenidate and Self-Regulation Therapy

Abstract

A deepening in the biological nature of the general factor of personality (GFP) is suggested: the activation level of the stress system is here represented by the gene expression of c-fos. The results of a single case experimental design are reported. A model of four coupled differential equations that explains the human personality dynamics as a consequence of a single stimulant drug intake has been fitted to psychological and biological experimental data. The stimulant-drug conditioning and its adaptation to the considered mathematical model is also studied for both kinds of measures. The dynamics of the c-fos expression presents a similar pattern to the dynamics of the psychological measures of personality assessed by the GFP-FAS (Five-Adjective Scale of the General Factor of Personality) as a consequence of a single dose of stimulant drug (methylphenidate). The model predicts similar dynamic patterns for both psychological and biological measures. This study proves that describing mathematically the dynamics of the effects of a stimulant drug as well as the effects of a conditioning method on psychological or subjective variables and on gene expression is possible. It verifies the existence of biological mechanisms underlying the dynamics of the General Factor of Personality (GFP).

The General Factor Of Personality: History of an Interdisciplinary Venture

“…On the other hand, in studies of an only case we could validate our model from the changes that methylphenidate produced in two regulating genes: DRD3 and c-fos [12,13]. DRD3 is a gene that regulates the cellular inhibiting mechanisms and the opposite is true for c-fos.…”

“…For example, the mathematical model of response to a stimulating drug was conceived in [5,9] like a finite differences equation with a discreet delay. Nevertheless, face to the challenge of looking at the body-mind problem, the model became a continuous delay differential equation [13,15,16], well-known in mathematics as an integro-differential equation. In addition we have to add to the obtained equations, the partial differential equation with which to study the body-mind problem [16] and the dynamic relations among the GFP and the Big Five [10].…”

“…In the biological studies above mentioned [11][12][13] a suggestion procedure designed by Salvador Amigó, named Therapy of Auto-Regulation (TAR) was used, that teaches "to imitate" or to reproduce mentally the effects of drugs [14]. It was verified that the TAR modifies the biological parameters (glutamate, DRD3 and c-fos) in the same way that the own drug does, besides to reproduce the same subjective effects and also the same dynamics of the personality.…”

Factor General De Personalidad: Historia De Una Aventura Interdisciplinar

“…Por otra parte, en estudios de caso único pudimos validar nuestro modelo a partir de los cambios que el metilfenidato producía en dos genes reguladores: el DRD3 y el c-fos [12,13]. El DRD3 es un gen que regula los mecanismos inhibitorios celulares y lo contrario es cierto para el c-fos.…”

“…En los estudios biológicos que se acaban de señalar [11][12][13] se empleó un procedimiento de sugestión diseñado por Salvador Amigó, llamado Terapia de Auto-Regulación (TAR), que enseña a "imitar" o reproducir los efectos de las drogas [14]. Se comprobó que la TAR modifica los parámetros biológicos (glutamato, DRD3 y c-fos) de la misma manera que lo hace la propia droga, además de reproducir los mismos efectos subjetivos y también la misma dinámica de la personalidad.…”