Different neural pathways linking personality traits and eudaimonic well-being: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Abstract

Eudaimonic well-being (EWB) is the fulfillment of human potential and a meaningful life. Previous studies have shown that personality traits, especially extraversion, neuroticism, and conscientiousness, significantly contribute to EWB. However, the neurobiological pathways linking personality and EWB are not understood. Here, we used restingstate functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to investigate this issue. Specifically, we correlated individuals' EWB scores with the regional fractional amplitude of lowfrequency fluctuations (fALFF) of the brain, and then examined how personality traits predicted EWB-related spontaneous brain activity. We found that EWB was positively correlated with the fALFF in the right posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG) and thalamus, and negatively correlated with the strength of the thalamic-insular connectivity. More importantly, we found that personality traits influenced EWB in different ways. At the regional level, the fALFF in the pSTG and thalamus mediated the effects of neuroticism and extraversion on EWB, whereas the thalamus mediated the effect of conscientiousness on EWB. At the functional connectivity level, the thalamic-insular connectivity only mediated the effect of neuroticism on EWB. Taken together, our study provides the first evidence that EWB is associated with personality traits through different neural substrates.

Brain networks of happiness: dynamic functional connectivity among the default, cognitive and salience networks relates to subjective well-being

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Loneliness, eudaimonia, and the human conserved transcriptional response to adversity

“…Future research using pharmacologic antagonists and experimental models will be required to determine whether such effects are mediated by such sympathetic/parasympathetic dynamics or perhaps by other neural or endocrine signaling pathways that may be engaged by eudaimonic well-being (Ryff, 2014; Ryff et al, 2006; Ryff et al, 2004; Taylor, 2006). Additional insights could also come from mapping the functional interactions between the CNS substrates of eudaimonia (Heller et al, 2013; Kong et al, 2015; Lewis et al, 2014; Telzer et al, 2014) and those involved in autonomic nervous system regulation (Beissner et al, 2013). Ancillary analyses identified CTRA associations with several other dimensions of affect and social perception, including positive and negative affect, anxiety symptoms, optimism (marginally), and pessimism.…”

Mother's but not father's education predicts general fluid intelligence in emerging adulthood: Behavioral and neuroanatomical evidence

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