Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Mar 16;12(1):4558.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-08686-z.

Whole-brain white matter correlates of personality profiles predictive of subjective well-being

Raviteja Kotikalapudi  1 , Mihai Dricu  2 , Dominik Andreas Moser  1 , Tatjana Aue  1
Affiliations

Whole-brain white matter correlates of personality profiles predictive of subjective well-being

Raviteja Kotikalapudi et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

We investigated the white matter correlates of personality profiles predictive of subjective well-being. Using principal component analysis to first determine the possible personality profiles onto which core personality measures would load, we subsequently searched for whole-brain white matter correlations with these profiles. We found three personality profiles that correlated with the integrity of white matter tracts. The correlates of an "optimistic" personality profile suggest (a) an intricate network for self-referential processing that helps regulate negative affect and maintain a positive outlook on life, (b) a sustained capacity for visually tracking rewards in the environment and (c) a motor readiness to act upon the conviction that desired rewards are imminent. The correlates of a "short-term approach behavior" profile was indicative of minimal loss of integrity in white matter tracts supportive of lifting certain behavioral barriers, possibly allowing individuals to act more outgoing and carefree in approaching people and rewards. Lastly, a "long-term approach behavior" profile's association with white matter tracts suggests lowered sensitivity to transient updates of stimulus-based associations of rewards and setbacks, thus facilitating the successful long-term pursuit of goals. Together, our findings yield convincing evidence that subjective well-being has its manifestations in the brain.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Total variance explained (60.8%) by the five PCA components with an eigenvalue > 1.
Figure 2
Figure 2
TBSS positive correlations between axial diffusivity and the "Optimism" personality profile. Upper row: corticospinal tract. Second row: dorsal superior longitudinal fasciculus. Third row: anterior corpus callosum. Bottom row: anterior cingulum bundle.
Figure 3
Figure 3
TBSS negative correlations between fractional anisotropy and the "Short-term approach behavior" personality profile. Upper row: inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. Middle row: inferior longitudinal fasciculus/posterior corpus callosum. Bottom row: inferior longitudinal fasciculus/posterior corpus callosum.
Figure 4
Figure 4
TBSS positive correlations between radial diffusivity and the "Short-term approach behavior". Top row: inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. Bottom row: posterior corpus callosum.
Figure 5
Figure 5
TBSS positive correlations between radial diffusivity and "Long-term approach behavor": right uncinate fasciculus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Diener E, Heintzelman SJ, Kushlev K, Tay L, Wirtz D, Lutes LD, et al. Findings all psychologists should know from the new science on subjective well-being. Can. Psychol. 2017;58(2):87.
    1. Potter S, Drewelies J, Wagner J, Duezel S, Brose A, Demuth I, et al. Trajectories of multiple subjective well-being facets across old age: The role of health and personality. Psychol. Aging. 2020;35(6):894. - PubMed
    1. Cummins RA, Gullone E, Lau AL. A Model of Subjective Well-Being Homeostasis: The Role of Personality. Springer; 2002. pp. 7–46.
    1. Lucas, R. Exploring the Associations Between Personality and Subjective Well-Being. Handbook of Well-Being (DEF Publishers, 2018). https://www.nobascholar.com/chapters/3.
    1. Weiss A, Bates TC, Luciano M. Happiness is a personal(ity) thing: The genetics of personality and well-being in a representative sample. Psychol. Sci. 2008;19(3):205–210. - PubMed

Publication types