Structural equation modeling of the associations between amygdala activation, personality, and internalizing, externalizing symptoms of psychopathology.

Craig S Neumann

doi:10.1017/pen.2020.8

Abstract

There is an expanding literature on the theoretical and empirical connections between personality and psychopathology, and their shared neurobiological correlates. Recent cybernetic theories of personality and psychopathology, as well as affective neuroscience theory, provide grounding for understanding neurobiological-personality-psychopathology (NPP) associations. With the emergence of large sample datasets (e.g., Human Connectome Project) advanced quantitative modeling can be used to rigorously test dynamic statistical representations of NPP connections. Also, research suggests that these connections are influenced by sex, and large samples provide the opportunity to examine how NPP associations might be moderated by sex. The current study used a large sample from the Duke Neurogenetics Study (DNS) to examine how amygdala activation to facial expressions was linked with self-report of personality traits and clinical interviews of internalizing and externalizing symptoms of psychopathology. Structural equation modeling results revealed direct associations of amygdala activation with personality trait expression, as well as indirect associations (though personality) with symptoms of psychopathology. Moreover, the NPP links were moderated by sex. The current results are in line with research that identifies a broader role played by the amygdala in personality and provide potential insights for continued research in personality neuroscience and recent theories on the neurobiology of personality.

Highlights

There is an expanding literature on the theoretical and empirical connections between personality and psychopathology, and their shared neurobiological correlates
Studies have indicated that a range of characteristics of people is linked with amygdala activation, such as Neuroticism and depression (Hariri, 2009), trait optimism (Feder et al, 2009), trait happiness and positive emotion (Cunningham & Kirkland, 2014), attachment style (Vrticka et al, 2008), resilience (Heitzeg et al, 2008), pathological personality traits (Carré et al, 2013; Donegan et al, 2003; Schultz et al, 2016), and personality style and attentional focus (Most et al, 2006)
For the primary model (Model A), the multiple-group Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) resulted in an excellent fit (CFI = .99; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = .03), and the loadings for the activation variables were all strong and significant

Summary

Introduction

There is an expanding literature on the theoretical and empirical connections between personality and psychopathology, and their shared neurobiological correlates. The current study used a large sample from the Duke Neurogenetics Study (DNS) to examine how amygdala activation to facial expressions was linked with self-report of personality traits and clinical interviews of internalizing and externalizing symptoms of psychopathology. The amygdala is understood as playing a broader role than originally thought (Cunningham & Brosch, 2012; Pessoa, 2010), and may be a critical area for understanding neurobiological–personality–psychopathology (NPP) links. Recent research suggests considerable neuroanatomical overlap (including the amygdala) between personality traits and internalizing, externalizing psychopathology (Hyatt et al, 2019), consistent with the notion of fundamental NPP links. An important consideration is how the amygdala might fit into a larger theory regarding such links

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion