Eysenck's arousal theory of introversion€xtraversion: A converging measures investigation.

Abstract

Convergent electroencephalographic, performance, and psychometric measures of arousal were used to test predictions based on H. J. Eysenck's (1967) theory. Twelve introverts and 12 extraverts had their brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) monitored under 3 levels of caffeine administration (0.0, 1.5, and 3.0 mg/kg) and 3 levels of task demand (resting, simple response time, and complex response time). Results revealed a decrease in the latency of Wave V of the BAER as a function of personality, with introverts evidencing significantly shorter latency of Wave V as compared with extraverts. Faster conduction time between Waves I-III and I-V were also found in introverts. Caffeine at either the 1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg level was associated with decreased latency of Wave V, compared with the placebo condition. No personality differences in subjective arousal or reaction time performance were found across any of the conditions.

Personality traits and its association with resting regional brain activity

“…Studies have shown faster brainstem transmission is associated with adult introversion (Andress and Church, 1981). The faster brainstem transmission in introverted personalities could be a reflection of increased arousal in the ascending reticular activating system that is, higher levels of brainstem arousal (Bullock and Gilliand, 1993;Matthews and Gilliland, 1999;Swickert and Gilliand, 1998).…”

Energetical bases of extraversion: Effort, arousal, EEG, and performance

“…Brocke et al (1997) found that introverts had smaller P300 amplitudes than extraverts under conditions of supraoptimal arousal, indicating that introverts invest more effort under these conditions. This result was of special importance, because the concept of the control system was initially introduced by Eysenck (1982) to explain why supraoptimal arousal levels were not found to impair the performance of introverts (Bakan, 1959;Bullock and Gilliland, 1993;Davies and Hockey, 1966;Keister and McLaughlin, 1972). Therefore, the P300 amplitude was also expected to function as an effort indicator for introverts in supraoptimal arousal conditions.…”

“…Many studies failed to confirm this prediction (Bakan, 1959;Bullock and Gilliland, 1993;Davies and Hockey, 1966;Keister and McLaughlin, 1972). Eysenck (1982Eysenck ( , 1988 and Hockey (1986Hockey ( , 1988 explained the failure to reduce the performance of introverts through sensory stimulation (e.g.…”

“…As far as the effort mechanism is able to compensate for sub-or supraoptimal arousal levels, no performance effects will be found (Hockey, 1997), even when the psychophysiological measures of arousal indicate that the corresponding arousal levels were induced, as was probably the case in Brocke et al (1996Brocke et al ( , 1997 or in Bullock and Gilliland (1993). However, justified doubts will remain as to whether arousal and effort differences might be the reason for performance differences until the interindividual arousal differences are found at the same time as the corresponding performance differences (as in Brocke et al, 1996Brocke et al, , 1997.…”

Supporting Novice to Expert Transitions in User Interfaces

“…The efficacy of certain training interventions has been demonstrated to interact with individual and environmental factors, which greatly complicates the process of determining which training methods are likely to be most effective for different people in different settings. For example, although it is known that performance generally follows an inverted U shape with level of arousal (i.e., performance deteriorates when a person is under-or overexcited), there is evidence that personality differences such as introversion and extroversion result in different baselines of arousal, and, consequently, the same stimulus effect may increase performance for an extrovert while decreasing performance for an introvert [Revelle et al 1980;Bullock and Gilliland 1993]. Revelle et al's study also showed interactions between several other factors, including time of day, other personality factors, and consumption of stimulants.…”