ИСТИНА

The study was devoted to the investigation of the relationships between the basic characteristics of temperament, measured by different questionnaires, and parameters of the event-related potentials recorded in a classical attentional odd-ball task. Experiments were carried out in 30 subjects (age: 18-27 years). Two acoustic stimuli, which were easily differentiated by all subjects, were presented in random order, with the ratio of probabilities 1:4. The subjects had to press the button when the rare (target) stimulus was presented. EEG was filtered (1-30 Hz) and evoked activity was calculated by way of coherent averaging of 30-40 target trials for each subject. Peak latencies and amplitudes of the components were obtained for ERPs in 15 pericentral leads. Temperament features were determined by means of Pavlovian temperament questionnaire (PTS, Strelau, 1999), Eysenck’s personality questionnaire (EPI, Eysenck, 1982) and Structure of the temperament questionnaire (STQ, Rusalov, 1990). Extraversion (EPI1) and Mobility of the nervous system (PTS3) showed highly significant negative relationship with the amplitude of the N1-P2 complex, and to a lesser extent, with the amplitude of N1 peak. Also Extraversion (EPI1) and Social ergonicity (STQ2) were found to be negatively correlated with the latency of N2 peak. Correlations between Extraversion and Mobility of the nervous system, and between Extraversion and Social ergonicity were found. The nature of correlations between PTS, STQ and EPI scales supports the idea that Extraversion reflects both intensity and temporal aspects of temperament, which is in line with earlier psychological studies (Strelau, 2005). Our electrophysiological data also support this idea, since the degree of extraversion affects characteristics of the two components of ERP, which are believed to reflect different aspects of information processing. Lower amplitude of N1-P2 complex probably reflects lesser amount of allocated resources and more effective processing of incoming stimuli at preattentional stage; that can lead to greater mobility. Earlier generation of the N2 wave may reflect faster transition from the automatic preattentional state to the attentional processing, which can be a neurological prerequisite for higher ergonicity.