Temperament Affects Sympathetic Nervous Function in a Normal Population

Abstract

ObjectiveAlthough specific temperaments have been known to be related to autonomic nervous function in some psychiatric disorders, there are few studies that have examined the relationship between temperaments and autonomic nervous function in a normal population. In this study, we examined the effect of temperament on the sympathetic nervous function in a normal population.MethodsSixty eight healthy subjects participated in the present study. Temperament was assessed using the Korean version of the Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Autonomic nervous function was determined by measuring skin temperature in a resting state, which was recorded for 5 minutes from the palmar surface of the left 5th digit using a thermistor secured with a Velcro® band. Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to examine the relationship between temperament and skin temperature.ResultsA higher harm avoidance score was correlated with a lower skin temperature (i.e. an increased sympathetic tone; r=-0.343, p=0.004) whereas a higher persistence score was correlated with a higher skin temperature (r=0.433, p=0.001). Hierarchical linear regression analysis revealed that harm avoidance was able to predict the variance of skin temperature independently, with a variance of 7.1% after controlling for sex, blood pressure and state anxiety and persistence was the factor predicting the variance of skin temperature with a variance of 5.0%.ConclusionThese results suggest that high harm avoidance is related to an increased sympathetic nervous function whereas high persistence is related to decreased sympathetic nervous function in a normal population.

Best-fit index for describing physical perspectives in Sasang typology

“…Sweating and thermal regulation, which are major common pathophysiological symptoms of the TE type, are influenced by sympathetic nervous activity 35 and these physiological functions are under the influence of the hypothalamus.…”

“…Besides these, it is known that the oxytocin 34 plays an important role in sociability, which is recognized as one of characteristics of the TE type. 14 Sweating and thermal regulation, which are major common pathophysiological symptoms of the TE type, are influenced by sympathetic nervous activity 35 and these physiological functions are under the influence of the hypothalamus.…”

“…The pathophysiological characteristics of the TE type in lipid accumulation, 3 , 36 , 37 insulin metabolism, 38 hunger or food intake, 6 , 35 immunological characteristics, 8 and low sensitivity to stress response 39 are under the influence of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, 40 , 41 where the hypothalamus is located at the peak of its cascade. 42 , 43 In addition, water intake and excretion, which are controlled by vasopressin/antidiuretic hormone, play an important role in the high blood pressure of the TE type, 36 and at the peak of this cascade is the hypothalamus.…”