神经质人格的神经生理基础

Neurophysiological Mechanism of Neuroticism

神经质作为一种人格特质,核心特征是具有负性情绪体验的倾向。高神经质个体表现出更强的情绪反应、更差的情绪感知和应对,因而体验到更多的负性情绪,进而容易形成一系列精神障碍和身体疾病。因此,神经质成为精神病理学中一个重要的风险因素。来自自主神经系统、神经内分泌系统和脑的证据发现,高神经质个体心血管灵活性降低、HPA轴基线活动增强、EEG活动增大以及负性情绪引起的杏仁核活动增强,其中杏仁核的自上而下和自下而上通路可能是整合多方面证据的关键。进一步研究应致力于将遗传学、电生理学、生物化学、脑成像技术等相结合,构建神经质产生、形成的神经生理模型。

Neuroticism is a trait of personality, and its core feature is the tendency to experience negative emotions. Highly neurotic individuals had more intense emotional reactions as well as poorer performances on emotion perception and coping. Thus, these individuals tended to experience more negative emotions, leading them to be more vulnerable to a series of mental and physical disorders. Due to these factors, neurotieism has become one of the most important risk factors in development of psychopathology. Evidence from studies concerning autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, and the brain showed that highly neurotic individuals had reduced cardiovascular flexibility, enhanced HPA baseline activity, increased EEG activity, and enhanced amygdala activity induced by negative emotions. More importantly, there was evidence that the top-down and bottom-up pathway of amygdala may be the key to explain these associations. Future research is strongly encouraged to integrate methods from genetics, electrophysiology, biochemistry, and brain imaging technology, so as to construct a neuro-physiological model of neuroticism.