An event-related potential observation of preposition processing in Chinese**★ Is N280 a specific component for Chinese prepositions?

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that closed-class words, such as prepositions and conjunctions, induce a left anterior negativity (N280), indicating that N280 should be a specific component of the word category. OBJECTIVE: To observe if Chinese prepositions and verbs exhibit different linguistic functions, to determine whether they are processed by different neural systems, and to verify that N280 is a specific component. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The observed neurolinguistics experiment was performed at Xuzhou Normal University between November and December 2006. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen undergraduate students, comprising 8 females and 8 males, with no mental or neuropathological history, were selected. METHODS: A total of 15 verbs and prepositions were used as linguistic stimuli, and each verb and preposition was combined to produce four correct phrase collocations and four incorrect ones. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Event-related potentials were recorded in the subjects while they read correct or incorrect phases flashed upon a video screen. RESULTS: Both verbs and prepositions elicited negativity at the frontal site in a 230–330 ms window, as well as at the fronto-temporal and central sites in a 350–500 ms window. Neither exhibited significant differences in peak [F (1, 15) = 0.144, P = 0.710] and latency [F (1, 15) = 0.144, P = 0.710]. Both verbs and prepositions elicited negativity at the left and right hemisphere in a 270–400 ms window. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between Chinese prepositions and verbs in the neural system process and N280 was not the specific component for closed-class words. Key Words: Chinese words; event-related potentials; prepositions; semantics; syntax; verbs     

An event-related potential observation of preposition processing in Chinese**★ Is N280 a specific component for Chinese prepositions?

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that closed-class words, such as prepositions and conjunctions, induce a left anterior negativity (N280), indicating that N280 should be a specific component of the word category. OBJECTIVE: To observe if Chinese prepositions and verbs exhibit different linguistic functions, to determine whether they are processed by different neural systems, and to verify that N280 is a specific component. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The observed neurolinguistics experiment was performed at Xuzhou Normal University between November and December 2006. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen undergraduate students, comprising 8 females and 8 males, with no mental or neuropathological history, were selected. METHODS: A total of 15 verbs and prepositions were used as linguistic stimuli, and each verb and preposition was combined to produce four correct phrase collocations and four incorrect ones. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Event-related potentials were recorded in the subjects while they read correct or incorrect phases flashed upon a video screen. RESULTS: Both verbs and prepositions elicited negativity at the frontal site in a 230–330 ms window, as well as at the fronto-temporal and central sites in a 350–500 ms window. Neither exhibited significant differences in peak [F (1, 15) = 0.144, P = 0.710] and latency [F (1, 15) = 0.144, P = 0.710]. Both verbs and prepositions elicited negativity at the left and right hemisphere in a 270–400 ms window. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between Chinese prepositions and verbs in the neural system process and N280 was not the specific component for closed-class words. Key Words: Chinese words; event-related potentials; prepositions; semantics; syntax; verbs     

Cerebellar activation and lateralization during verbal and visuospatial tasks as revealed by fMRI

BACKGROUND: Many studies concerning cerebral activation and lateralization of cognitive functions are being conducted. Cerebellar function has been much researched with reference to high-level cognitive processing, but has been barely researched in systematization and diversification. In particular, cerebellar lateralization has never been researched, in comparison to cerebral lateralization for which reliable results have been reported. OBJECTIVE: This study ascertains cerebellar activation and its lateralization in relation to verbal and visuospatial tasks, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). DESIGN, TIME, AND SETTING: A block design for functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) observation. This study was performed at the fMRI Laboratory, Brain Science Research Center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology from May 2006 to September 2008. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen healthy male college students (23.3 ± 0.5 years) and another sixteen healthy male college students (21.5 ± 2.3 years) participated in this fMRI study of verbal and visuospatial tasks, respectively. METHODS: The verbal and visuospatial tasks were presented while functional brain images were acquired using a 3T fMRI system (ISOL Technology, Korea). The verbal analogy testing required the subject to select the word which had the same relationship as one of the given words. The verbal antonym testing required the subject to select the word which had a different meaning among 4 words. The visuospatial tasks involved selecting a shape that corresponded to a given figure using four examples, as well as selecting a development figure of a diagram. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The double subtraction method was used to analyze the differences of the cerebellar activation between the two cognition tasks. The numbers of activated voxels were calculated in bilateral cerebellums for the two tasks. The lateralization index of the cerebellum was calculated for each task. RESULTS: The bilateral hemisphere lobule VI and IX, the right hemisphere lobule VIII, the bilateral hemisphere lobule crus I, and the vermis lobule IV, V and VI are closely related to verbal tasks in comparison to visuospatial tasks. Conversely, the bilateral hemisphere lobule IV and V, and the right hemisphere lobule VI were closely related to visuospatial tasks compared to verbal tasks. There was no great difference between the bilateral cerebellums in the numbers of activated voxels for the tasks and cerebellar lateralization was not observed. CONCLUSION: In the case of the cerebellum, the activation region was different between the verbal and visuospatial tasks, but lateralization was not different.     

Antithrombin gene Arg197Stop mutation-associated venous sinus thrombosis in a Chinese family

This study sought to elucidate the genetic correlation of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis caused by a hereditary antithrombin deficiency in a Chinese family,at the genetic and protein levels.A nonsense mutation from C to T on locus 6431 in exon 3B of the antithrombin gene was observed,leading to an arginine (CGA) to stop codon (TGA) change in the protein.This is the first report of this mutation in China.Ineffective heparin therapy in the propositus patient is associated with a lack of heparin binding sites after antithrombin gene mutation.Characteristic low intracranial pressure in the acute phase might be specific to this patient with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.     

Effects of orthographic neighborhood on reading in Chinese An fMRI study

BACKGROUND:Much research has focused on neighborhood size in alphabetic languages.Results have consistently demonstrated that the neighborhood effect is a stimulating factor in word reading.The present study addressed whether there are neighborhood effects in Chinese character reading.OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether neighborhood effect exists in Chinese character eading and whether specific brain regions are responsible for it.DESIGN:An evem-related design.SETTING:Beijing Anzhen Hospital.PARTICIPANTS:The experiment was conducted at Beijing Anzhen Hospital from October 2004 to December 2004.Undergraduate students,aged 19-24 years,were selected from Beijing Normal University, comprising 13 males and 16 females.Inclusive criteria:①Neurologically normal and right-handed; ② native-Chinese speakers.All subjects gave informed consent prior to experimentation. METHODS:①Behavioral experiment:the experiment utilized a 2×2 factorial design.The factors included orthographic neighborhood size(few or many neighbors)and lexical regularity(regular or irregular characters).There was no significant difference between the ratio of regular and irregular characters in each family.The experiment was performed on a notebook PC and was piloted by E-Prime software.A fixation point " " was presented on the screen for 500 ms,and then the target item was displayed in the same place of the fixation for 2 000 ms.Subjects were asked to read the character aloud quickly and correctly.The target item disappeared once the subject read it.Reaction time(RT)and error ratios were collected and analyzed. ②fMRI study:the study was an event-related design.Each character was presented for 500 ms,and the offset was followed by " " presented for 1 500-26 000 ms.Each duration was divided by 500 exactly.The subject was required to read silently.AFNI software package was used to analyze the fMRI data.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:①RT and error ratio in behavioral experiment;②Brain mapping in tMRI study.RESULTS:Twenty-nine undergraduate students were involved in the result analysis.①Behavioral experiment results of RT:the main effect of regularity was highly significant for participants (F1)and items (F2)[F1(1,28)＝135.74,P＜0.01; F2(1,76)＝49.506,P＜0.01],with regular words being responded faster than irregular words.The ain effect of N was not significant,but was localized in an uncertain area [F1 (1,28)＝3.182,P＞0.05; F2 not significant].Moreover,there was an interaction between neighborhood and regularity [F1(1,28)＝6.666,P＜0.05; F2(1,76)＝3.157,P＞0.05].Analyses of simple effect determined that when the characters were irregular,the RT of low neighborhoods was shorter than high neighborhoods. Behavioral experiment results of error ratio:similar analyses were performed on the number of errors in the naming task.ANOVA demonstrated a main effect of regularity [F1(1,28)＝10.475,P＜0.01; F2(1,76)＝ 4.686,P＜0.05],with errors of regular words less than irregular words.The main effect of neighborhoods was not significant.Moreover,there was an interaction between neighborhood and regularity by subjects [F1 (1,28)＝7.632,P＜0.05],but not by items [F2(1,76)＝3.906,P＞0.05].Analyses of simple effect found that when the characters were regular,the number of errors in high neighborhoods(23%)was greater than in low neighborhoods(11%).②fMRI results:bilateral fusiforms were sensitive to Chinese character shape.Both neighborhoods effect and regular effect mainly yielded right cerebral hemisphere and bilateral brain area.CONCLUSION:Neighborhood effect existed in character reading.However,results are contrary to what has been shown in English word reading.The fewer neighborhoods that one character ad,the shorter the RT was.The fMRI results demonstrated the neighborhood effect and regular effect primarily stimulated right cerebral hemisphere and the bilateral brain area.     

Regulated upon activation,normal T cell expressed and secreted(RANTES) levels in the peripheral blood of patients with Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is the most common type of dementia, but it is very difficult to diagnose with certainty, so many AD studies have attempted to find early and relevant diagnostic markers. Regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted(RANTES, also known as C-C chemokine ligand) is a chemokine involved in the migration of T cells and other lymphoid cells. Changes in RANTES levels and its expression in blood or in cerebrospinal fluid have been reported in some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, but also in metabolic diseases in which inflammation plays a role. The aim of this observational study was to assess RANTES levels in peripheral blood as clinical indicators of AD. Plasma levels of RANTES were investigated in 85 AD patients in a relatively early phase of AD(median 8.5 months after diagnosis; 39 men and 46 women; average age 75.7 years), and in 78 control subjects(24 men and 54 women; average age 66 years). We found much higher plasma levels of RANTES in AD patients compared to controls. A negative correlation of RANTES levels with age, disease duration, Fazekas scale score, and the medial temporal lobe atrophy(MTA) score(Scheltens' s scale) was found in AD patients, i.e., the higher levels corresponded to earlier stages of the disease. Plasma RANTES levels were not correlated with cognitive scores. In AD patients, RANTES levels were positively correlated with the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, which is consistent with the wellknown fact that AD is associated with inflammatory processes. RANTES levels were also positively correlated with insulin levels in AD patients, with insulin resistance(HOMA-R) and pancreatic beta cell function(HOMA-F). This study evaluated several clinical and metabolic factors that may affect plasma levels of RANTES, but these factors could not explain the increases in RANTES levels observed in AD patients. Plasma levels of RANTES appear to be an interesting peripheral marker for early stages of AD. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic on July 22, 2011.     

急性脑梗死患者血浆内神经元特异性烯醇酶的变化：病例对照

BACKGROUND： The plasma level of neuron specific enolase （NSE） can be used to diagnose and evaluate neuronal injury and predict early prognosis.
OBJECTIVE： To observe the dynamic changes in plasma levels of NSE in patients with acute cerebral infarction, and to investigate its correlations with disease severity and prognosis.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： This non-randomized, concurrent case-control experiment was performed at the Department of Neurology, First Hospital Affiliated to Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between May and July 2007. PARTICIPANTS： Eighteen patients with acute cerebral infarction, who received treatment at the Department of Neurology, First Hospital Affiliated to Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between May and July 2007, were recruited into the patient group. An additional 10 healthy individuals, who received health examinations simultaneously, were included as controls.
METHODS： Following admission （within 3 days） and at days 6, 12, and 30 subsequent to acute cerebral infarction attack, 3 mL venous blood was taken from each patient before the morning meal to determine the plasma level of NSE by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay. One-time blood extraction was performed in each healthy subject during the health examination for the same purpose as in patients. At 6 and 30 days following acute cerebral infarction attack, CT examination was performed for calculation of cerebral infarction volume according to the Tada formula. Following admission and at 30 days of disease invasion, all patients were scored by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale （NIHSS, 13 items）.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Comparison of NSE plasma level between acute cerebral infarction patients and healthy individuals; correlations of NSE plasma level in acute cerebral infarction patients with cerebral infarction volume, NIHSS score, and prognosis.
RESULTS： Following admission and at days 6 and 12 of disease invasion, the plasma level of NSE was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group （P 〈 0.05）. Following admission and at day 30 of disease invasion, the NIHSS scores of the patient group were 17.706 and 11.222, respectively. Following admission and at day 6 of disease invasion, the plasma level of NSE was positively correlated with cerebral infarction volume （r = 0.503, 0.435, P 〈 0.05）, but it was negatively correlated with NIHSS score （r = -0.571, 0.368, P 〈 0.05）. The plasma level of NSE was mostly correlated with cerebral infarction volume, followed by NIHSS score, and lastly prognosis, with regression coefficients of 0.386, 0.343, and 0.340, respectively.
CONCLUSION： The plasma level of NSE is higher in patients with acute cerebral infarction than in the healthy population. It can reflect infarct severity and predict early prognosis of acute cerebral infarction.     

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy subtypes First-reported cohort from northeastern China*

The relative frequencies of different subtypes of limb-girdle muscular dystrophies vary widely among different populations. We estimated the percentage of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy subtypes in Chinese people based on 68 patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy from the Myology Clinic, Neurology Department, First Hospital of Jilin University, China. A diagnosis of calpainopathy was made in 12 cases （17%）, and dysferlin deficiency in 10 cases （15%）. Two biopsies revealed α-sarcoglycan deficiency （3%）, and two others revealed a lack of caveolin-3 （3%）. A diagnosis of unclassified limb-girdle muscular dystrophy was made in the remaining patients （62%）. The ap-pearances of calpain 3- and dysferlin-deficient biopsies were similar, though rimmed vacuoles were unique to dysferlinopathy, while inflammatory infiltrates were present in both these limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2D biopsies. Macrophages were detected in seven dysferlinopathy biop-sies. The results of this study suggest that the distribution of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy sub-types in the Han Chinese population is similar to that reported in the West. The less necrotic, re-generating and inflammatory appearance of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A, but with more lobulated fibers, supports the idea that calpainopathy is a less active, but more chronic disease than dysferlinopathy. Unusual features indicated an extended limb-girdle muscular dystrophy disease spectrum. The use of acid phosphatase stain should be considered in suspected dysferlinopathies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to define the relative proportions of the various forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy in China, based on protein testing.     

The long rather than the short allele of 5-HTTLPR predisposes Han Chinese to anxiety and reduced connectivity between prefrontal cortex and amygdala

The short allele of the serotonin-transporter gene is associated with higher risk for anxiety and depression in Caucasians, but this association is still unclear in Asians. Here, we addressed this issue using behavioral and multi-modal MRI approaches in a large group of healthy Han Chinese participants (n = 233). In contrast to findings in Caucasians, we found that long-allele (L) carriers had higher anxiety scores. In another group (n = 64) experiencing significant levels of depression or anxiety, the L-allele frequency was also significantly higher. In healthy participants, L-carriers had reduced functional and anatomical connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex (PFC), which was correlated with anxiety or depression scores. Our findings demonstrated that in Chinese Han participants, in contrast to Caucasians, the L-allele confers vulnerability to anxiety or depression and weakens top-down emotional control between the PFC and amygdala. Therefore, ethnic background should be taken into account in gene-related studies and their potential clinical applications.     

Effects of topiramate versus other antiepileptic drugs on the cognitive function of patients with epilepsy

BACKGROUND: Only very large dose of topiramate has neurotoxicity, indicating that topiramate has low neurotoxicity and high safety. The residual rate of topiramate is affected by many cognitive-related adverse effects. Patients who take topiramate often accompany with thought slowness, difficulty in finding words, dyscalculia, blunt reaction, attention decreasing, memory deterioration, etc. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of topiramate with traditional anti-epileptic drugs (including carbamazepine and Valproic acid (VPA) on cognitive function of patients with epilepsy. DESIGN: Observational experiment, self-control and intergroup comparison. SETTING: Sichuan Academy of Medical Science. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-seven inpatients and outpatients with newly diagnosed epilepsy who received preliminary diagnosis and follow-up in the Department of Neurology, Sichuan People's Hospital between January 2004 and June 2006 were involved in this survey. They were diagnosed according to disease history and electroencephalogram (EEG). The onset type was diagnosed following the definition of epilepsy and epileptic syndrome in 1989 International Anti-epileptic League. The involved patients and their relatives were informed of detection and therapeutic regimen. The patients were assigned into two groups according to table of random digit: traditional antiepileptic drugs group (AEDs group, n =44) and topiramate (TPM) group (n =43). METHODS: ①Among the patients in AEDs group, carbamazepine was the first choice for 21 patients with partial seizures or partial secondarily generalized seizures, and VPA for 23 patients with generalized seizures. The initial dose of carbamazepine was 300 mg/d, and that of VPA was 500 mg/d. Patients in the TPM group took TPM with the initial dose of 25 mg/d, increased by 25 mg/d each week to target dose 150 mg/d within 8 weeks. ② Curative effect was graded into 4 degrees: markedly effective, effective, ineffective and aggravated. Total effective rate was calculated. ③ Cognitive function of patients was tested before and 6 months after administration by using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale(WAIS) or Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC, Chinese edition), (Higher scores indicated better cognitive function), Stroop color word interference, test of memory of past numbers, test of telling the names of fruits and vegetables within 1 minute (Shorter time for reading word, telling color and memory of past numbers demonstrated better cognitive function. Less errors in reading words, telling colors and memory of past numbers, numbering and telling the names of fruits and vegetables within 1 minute indicated better cognitive function), etc. totally 22 items. ④ t test and paired t test were used for measurement data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical curative effects and adverse reactions as well as neurological tests. RESULTS: Eighty-four pationts praticipated final analysis and 3 dropped out. ① Inthe AEDS group and TPM group, total effective rate was 86% and 99%, respectively. ② In the AEDs group, there were no significant changes in the scores of each test of WIS before and after treatment (P > 0.05). In the TPM group, total IQ, word scores, verbal IQ and digit span scores were significantly decreased （t =2.097–4.423，P < 0.05–0.01）.Following treatment, the time for reading word and telling color for patients in the AEDs group was prolonged in Stroop color interference test（t =–2.304，–2.454，P < 0.05）, and time for reading word and memory of past numbers for patients in the topiramate group was significantly prolonged （t =–3.054，2.272，P < 0.01，0.05）. ③There were no significant differences in scores of WIS before and after treatment in AEDs group and TPM group (P > 0.05). Following treatment, verbal IQ, word scores, total IQ, digit span of patients in the TPM group were significantly lower than those in the AEDs group（t =2.052–3.297，P < 0.05–0.01）.There were no significant differences in Stroop color word interference, memory of past numbers and telling the names of fruits and vegetables within 1 minute before and after treatment in AEDs group and TPM group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: ① Moderate and small doses of both TPM and AEDs may lead to mild cognitive function impairment of patients, mainly presenting delayed reaction and decreased sensitivity. ②TPM mainly influences attention, language comprehension ability and fluency, while AEDs cause delayed reaction easily, but influence executive function mainly.     

Personality Characteristics of Male Sufferers of Chronic Tension-Type and Cervicogenic Headache

Background and Purpose

Chronic tension-type headache (a primary headache disorder) and cervicogenic headache (a secondary headache disorder that is attributable to upper cervical spine pathology) share similar clinical manifestations, but their associated personality traits may differ. We evaluated the personality differences between sufferers of chronic tension-type headache and cervicogenic headache.

Methods

We administered the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ) and the Zuckerman Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS) to 18 patients suffering from chronic tension-type headache, 19 suffering from cervicogenic headache, and 26 healthy volunteers. Depressive trends were measured with the Plutchik-van-Praag Depression Inventory (PVP).

Results

Compared to healthy controls, the chronic tension-type headache group scored significantly higher on ZKPQ Neuroticism-Anxiety and on the PVP, while the cervicogenic headache group scored significantly lower on SSS Thrill and Adventure Seeking. In addition, the total SSS score was significantly lower in the cervicogenic headache group than in both the chronic tension-type headache group and the healthy controls.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that higher scores for neuroticism-anxiety and depression were associated with chronic tension-type headache, while lower sensation-seeking scores were associated with cervicogenic headache.     

攻击人格特质影响颞肌活动第二外感受抑制的研究

目的探讨攻击人格特质对颞肌活动外感受抑制的影响。方法对65名高、低攻击倾向个体(以临 床估计)先检测颞肌外感受抑制,后行Zuckerman—Kuhlman人格量表(ZKPQ)、感觉寻求量表(SSS)、Plutchik-van Pragg抑郁量表(PVP)测试,最后选取符合研究分析要求的49人(高攻击22名,低攻击27名)实验数据进行统计分 析。结果高攻击组颞肌第二外感受抑制持续时间明显低于低攻击组。高攻击组ZKPQ的冲动感觉寻求、神经质 -焦虑和攻击-敌意3分量表得分、PVP总分明显高于低攻击组。2组所有人格特质或抑郁倾向与外感受抑制潜 伏期或持续时间均无相关关系。结论有限的神经生理学研究分析显示,高攻击人格特质个体可能存在脑干功能 紊乱。     

Exteroceptive suppression of temporalis muscle activity in subjects with high and low aggression traits.

STUDY AIM: There is evidence that the second exteroceptive suppression period of temporalis muscle activity (ES2) is modulated by the 5-HT neuronal activity in the brainstem, and the aggression trait is also connected with the cerebral 5-HT neuronal innervation. We therefore studied the temporalis ES2 in subjects with high and low aggression traits. METHODS: Sixty-five subjects with either low or high aggression trends, judged by clinical interview, answered the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ), the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scales (SSS) and the Plutchik-van Praag Depression Inventory (PVP). These also underwent a temporalis ES2 test procedure. Twenty-two subjects with a high ZKPQ aggression trait score and 27 with a low score were selected for data analysis. RESULTS: On average, the high aggression group displayed significantly reduced temporalis ES2 duration, elevated ZKPQ Impulsive Sensation Seeking, Neuroticism-Anxiety and Aggression-Hostility, and PVP scores. The personality traits were not related with either latency or duration of temporalis ES2 in any group. The PVP score, however, was negatively correlated with ES2 duration in all 49 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates neurophysiologic signs of brainstem dysfunction in subjects with high aggression traits.     

ERP differences between processing of physical characteristics and personality attributes

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Limited data from behavioral and brain-imaging studies indicate that personality traits and physical characteristics are processed differently by the brain. Additionally, electrophysiological results of studies comparing the processing of positive and negative words have produced mixed results. It is therefore not clear how physical and personality attributes with emotional valence (i.e., positive and negative valence) are processed. Thus, this study aimed to examine the neural activity associated with words describing personality traits and physical characteristics with positive or negative emotional valence using Event Related Potentials (ERPs). METHODS: A sample of 15 healthy adults (7 men, 8 women) participated in a computerized word categorization task. Participants were asked to categorize visual word stimuli as physical characteristics or personality traits, while ERPs were recorded synchronously. RESULTS: Behavioral reaction times to negative physical stimuli were shorter compared to negative personality words, however reaction times did not significantly differ for positive stimuli. Electrophysiological results showed that personality stimuli elicited larger P2 and LPC (Late Positive Component) amplitudes compared to physical stimuli, regardless of negative or positive valence. Moreover, negative as compared with positive stimuli elicited larger P2 and LPC amplitudes. CONCLUSION: Personality and physical stimuli were processed differently regardless of positive or negative valence. These findings suggest that personality traits and physical characteristics are differentially classified and are associated with different motivational significance.     

Religious coping and personality in later life

A stratified random subsample of 100 older adults from long-term participants of the Second Duke Longitudinal Study was interviewed concerning how they coped with three stressful event periods. Responses to open-ended coping questions were categorized as religious or non-religious in nature. Mean scores on 16 personality traits were compared between religious copers. Few differences were observed in personality scores between these groups. Compared with non-religious copers, religious copers scored lower on factor E (less aggressive or hostile, more humble, submissive); there was also a tendency towards being higher on factor G (more responsible, conscientious, and moralistic). Over a six-year period between wave 1 and wave 4, stability or change in personality was not related to coping style. No evidence was found for negative personality traits among older religious copers that have commonly been reported in younger religious individuals.     

Quality of life and its correlates in a community population in a Japanese rural area

Correlations of three aspects of quality of life (QOL) (health perception, life satisfaction, and self-confidence) with personality traits and early experiences were examined. Quality of life aspects were examined using 220 inhabitants in a rural community in Japan. Health perception was better among men than among women. Life satisfaction and self-confidence were better in people aged 55 or over than in those under 55. Among the current predictor variables, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire neuroticism score was correlated with poor life satisfaction in the younger women; the extraversion score with the older women's health perception, the older men's life satisfaction, and the women's self-confidence; and the psychoticism score with the older men's life satisfaction. Among early life predictors, self-confidence was lower among those older men who had reported early parental loss. Childhood paternal overprotection was correlated with poor health perception in younger people and with good health perception in older women. Some negative life events experienced during childhood were correlated with poorer QOL measures in some subgroups, while positive life experiences were correlated with the older women's life satisfaction. These findings suggest that the three aspects of the QOL are discrete in their psychosocial correlates and that interventions on health education and care should take into account individual's psychosocial attributes.     

Life events and personality characteristics in depression

Evidence from many sources supports the view that stressful life events might be relevant for the onset and development of depression, but their pathogenic role is still only poorly understood. One approach in trying to elucidate the role of life events in depression, might be to study them from a multi-factorial point of view, taking into account the vulnerability of the individual experiencing them. As part of such an investigation, 138 depressed patients with a mean age of 45 years have participated in a study of life events and personality traits. In particular, it was tested whether aspects of aggression might interact with the occurrence and perception of external stressful events. Patients who scored high on outward aggression had experienced more stressful events, and patients who scored high on inhibition of aggression had experienced fewer, but more negatively. It is concluded that a combined study of the occurrence of life events and the personality characteristics of the patients experiencing them might enhance our understanding of the pathogenic role of life events in depression.     

Genetic variation in the schizophrenia-risk gene neuregulin1 correlates with personality traits in healthy individuals

BACKGROUND: Differences in personality traits have long been acknowledged as potential risk factors in developing psychiatric disorders. Lately, several susceptibility genes of different psychiatric disorders have been linked to personality traits. This has not been done for schizophrenia yet. Neuregulin1 has been repeatedly shown to be associated with schizophrenia and is involved in numerous neurodevelopmental functions such as neuronal migration and myelination. The impact of this gene might also modulate personality traits in healthy subjects. METHODS: The NRG1 status of 523 healthy subjects was determined with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP8NRG221533) which has been described as a tagging marker being part of the core at-risk haplotype for schizophrenia. Genotype was correlated with personality traits using the NEO-FFI questionnaire. RESULTS: Subjects with the NRG1 risk allele scored higher on neuroticism (p<.05) and lower on conscientiousness (p<.05). Further, interactions of genotype by gender for extraversion (p<.05), openness (p<.05) and conscientiousness (p<.05) were found with men carrying the risk allele scoring the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that the NRG1 gene which has found to be associated with schizophrenia may also influence personality differences in healthy subjects.     

Subclinical dementia. Relation to cognition,personality and psychopathology: A nine-year prospective study

In 1971/72 a representative sample of 70-year-olds was studied by means of psychological tests and personality inventories. Subjects showing evidence of dementia were excluded. Those who developed severe dementia between the ages of 70 and 79 were compared with those who did not. At 70, males subsequently developing dementia scored lower on a test of reasoning and on a test of perceptual speed, and needed more time to complete their tests than did the other males. At the same age, females subsequently developing dementia were slow on some of the tests, scored lower on a personality dimension pertaining to available resources of mental energy and scored higher on a personality dimension pertaining to a need to keep other people at a distance than did the other females. A logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the time taken to complete some of the cognitive tests and the personality dimension pertaining to mental energy independently predicted the development of severe dementia. There were no differences with regard to psychiatric diagnoses. The question whether these findings might be interpreted as early manifestations of dementia or as predisposing factors is as yet unanswered.