Simonov
In physiological studies of animals, Simonov (1981; Eysenck, 1990) has found a biological basis for extraversion-introversion that is related to two Pavlovian types. In the "strong" type (choleric), the frontal cortex and hypothalamus are dominant. In the "weak" type (melancholic), the hippocampus and amygdala are dominant. In extraversion, the frontal cortex and hippocampus are dominant. In introversion, the hypothalamus and amydala are dominant. Thus, the two types are related to extraversion-introversion as in the table below.
| Extraversion | Introversion |
"Strong" Type (Choleric) | Frontal Cortex Dominant | Hypothalamus Dominant |
"Weak" Type (Melancholic) | Hippocampus Dominant | Amygdala Dominant |
(This table is adapted from Revelle [1997], and Eysenck [1990].)
References
Eysenck, H. J. (1990). Biological dimensions of personality. In L. A. Pervin (Ed.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (pp. 244-276). New York: Guilford.
Revelle, W. (1997, August 12). Three fundamental dimensions of personality [WWW document]. URL http://personality-project.org/perproj/theory/big3.table.html
Simonov, P. V. (1981). Role of limbic structures in individual characteristics of behavior. Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, 41, 473-582.
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